With the almost endless history, background and lore of the universe (not to mention the fanbase) is there any reason why a feature length movie hasn't been made? And why?
Do you think there is any possibility that one will be made in the future?
Having just read Storm of Iron, I really believe that it would suite the movie format.
You have a self contained story that encompass guard, ad mech, marines, and traitors...with huge battles and small fights, intrigue, and deception. All without being too long, drawn out, or superfluous.
n0t_u wrote:There was one, based on the Ultramarines. CGI and straight to DVD though.
I'd rather see on focused on the IG with maybe the marines making a quick appearance near the end of it for the final push.
Wasn't exactly a blockbuster movie was it though. I'm talking about a big budget franchise that will see the universe propelled into the wider public. Let's face it, as movies go it has everything for it to be able to be a self sustained generator of interest. Movie watchers are crying out for great sci-fi movie.
Maybe GW should be out there looking for a backer then. It's not often that films are made on thier own nowadays anyway. Most are done in partnership. Marvel comics being a great example of this.
I saw Ultramarines and it was okay but not great. Dont get me wrong i liked it and would love a sequel but i dont think Gw will try it again any time soon because it was a flop for lack of a better word
If they do make a another movie i think it should be the trilogy of fire because its about the salamanders and guard and ork and dark eldar and Chaos with traitors and prophecy
Sorry to say this but if they ever do launch a movie something tells me that it will be an ultramarine*gag* based movie even tho I agree with Lightcavalier that storm of iron would be a good one to show just knowing GW and Ward the UM will be the focus of any major production. Then again I could also see them doing a movie with a Stargate style plan with it flowing over to SyFy network into a series....which wouldn't be all bad if certain chars came over from the big screen with the series... then it could be based on HH or even blend the different omnibus' together, or just go with a benign theme mixing IG with SM vs. all the different Xenos.... Just an idea GW(hint hint hint)
The Ultramarines movie was terrible, lol. Talk about a huge disappointment. The animation was decent, but the story was lackluster, and the whole concept was just kinda stupid. Dan Abnett must have written it half asleep, high as hell on Ambien.
Daston wrote:From what I have read in the past Hollywood have tried story boards for 40k but have been shot down by gw due to the way they wanted to change the ip
In what ways? Make it happier, more heroic? Dumber?
GW is *very* touchy about their intellectual property, since when you get down to it, that's basically all they have. Their games are all a bit crap anyway, they rely almost entirely on the draw of their various universes to keep people buying their models. I imagine they have refused Hollywood's advances based more on control of rights to their IP than anything else. Any movie Hollywood puts out these days is as much about the merchandising as ticket sales, and GW will never give anyone a license to essentially compete with themselves. It's sad but unless they found some angel investor who was willing to bankroll a big-budget movie without wanting much of anything in return, I doubt we'll ever see a 40k movie.
I doubt GW has been the limiting factor on a real movie getting made. I think the fact is that no serious studio is going to put real money into making a 40K movie. It's not a big enough license, and to do it "right" in a live action format would be absurdly expensive.
Movies based on games don't usually do all that well unless they cross into a genre that's already popular like Resident Evil's zombie movies. And the last thing you want to do is sell your license to Uwe Boll.
Veteran Sergeant wrote:I doubt GW has been the limiting factor on a real movie getting made. I think the fact is that no serious studio is going to put real money into making a 40K movie. It's not a big enough license, and to do it "right" in a live action format would be absurdly expensive.
But that's the catch. When has Hollywood ever cared about doing something "right"? You can take a source (like the Starship Troopers novel, or GI Joe) and make a big-budget movie that is directly antithetical to the message or tone or details of the original and make a ton of money doing it. But GW would never allow that. They rely too much on their IP to sell their game and would never cede even partial control of it to a Hollywood studio.
GW lacks the money to make a real movie with a capable staff involved. It could publish 100 books for the price of a movie like that, probably more. Direct-to-video movies are by and large terrible, and GW will and can only afford these.
40k lacks the popular culture brand recognition, the universe is too complicated to appeal to mainstream audiences, and so on. There could be a surprise hit like Starship troopers, but that'd provide directing and writing talent far beyond what GW can fork out.
I've seen movies based on Korean comics that had more of a 40k feeling than what I got from the Ultramarines trailer. And it had a bigger budget than what GW was willing to invest, too.
The setting has so much potential, but I just can't see the company exploiting it in the "right" way. If they ever make a movie again, I'm fairly sure it will be about Space Marines once more, as 50% of GW's activity seems to revolve around them. It's a crowd pleaser, and any movie would be made for the masses, not the most ardent fans who may have a wider perception of what 40k is capable of.
Veteran Sergeant wrote:I doubt GW has been the limiting factor on a real movie getting made. I think the fact is that no serious studio is going to put real money into making a 40K movie. It's not a big enough license, and to do it "right" in a live action format would be absurdly expensive.
But that's the catch. When has Hollywood ever cared about doing something "right"? You can take a source (like the Starship Troopers novel, or GI Joe) and make a big-budget movie that is directly antithetical to the message or tone or details of the original and make a ton of money doing it. But GW would never allow that. They rely too much on their IP to sell their game and would never cede even partial control of it to a Hollywood studio.
GW doesn't care about the IP nearly as much as you think. It protects the miniatures line jealously, but look at all the garbage ass Black Library books that come out. There are so many canon conflicts, and just plain bad novels, even amongst their coveted Horus Heresy line. The sanctity of the universe is hardly a concern, lol.
If a real studio came in with high dollar backing, they'd sell the rights in a second, and not care if they wanted to make small changes to the license. But the truth is, there's probably never been any serious interest in the IP. GW cares about the money. They aren't going to sell the license cheap.
salamander117 wrote:wanna make a point that they really do only care about money
... *clears throat* ... FINECAST
Exactly. Last I saw GW were listed on the stockmarket so really it's only ever about making money. Which makes the Point that they really haven't realised the potential of their brand. This film needs to be made.
Veteran Sergeant wrote:I doubt GW has been the limiting factor on a real movie getting made. I think the fact is that no serious studio is going to put real money into making a 40K movie. It's not a big enough license, and to do it "right" in a live action format would be absurdly expensive.
But that's the catch. When has Hollywood ever cared about doing something "right"? You can take a source (like the Starship Troopers novel, or GI Joe) and make a big-budget movie that is directly antithetical to the message or tone or details of the original and make a ton of money doing it. But GW would never allow that. They rely too much on their IP to sell their game and would never cede even partial control of it to a Hollywood studio.
GW doesn't care about the IP nearly as much as you think. It protects the miniatures line jealously, but look at all the garbage ass Black Library books that come out. There are so many canon conflicts, and just plain bad novels, even amongst their coveted Horus Heresy line. The sanctity of the universe is hardly a concern, lol.
If a real studio came in with high dollar backing, they'd sell the rights in a second, and not care if they wanted to make small changes to the license. But the truth is, there's probably never been any serious interest in the IP. GW cares about the money. They aren't going to sell the license cheap.
Pretty much this. If GW had an opportunity to make millions over "mainstream" 40k showing Space Marines be like the Mobile Infantry in Starship troopers (the movie) they would.
Though the Imperial Guard fulfills the role of "cannon fodder being chewed up in a futile meat grinder due to a corrupt/uncaring/tyrannical government" very well and Starship Troopers the movie can basically be IG vs Tyranids with a few minor adjustements, so there isn't much of a point for this kind of deviation.
Harriticus wrote:Pretty much this. If GW had an opportunity to make millions over "mainstream" 40k showing Space Marines be like the Mobile Infantry in Starship troopers (the movie) they would.
Though the Imperial Guard fulfills the role of "cannon fodder being chewed up in a futile meat grinder due to a corrupt/uncaring/tyrannical government" very well and Starship Troopers the movie can basically be IG vs Tyranids with a few minor adjustements, so there isn't much of a point for this kind of deviation.
Sadly, I would expect the beancounters in charge to reason that a movie with Space Marines would make more money than one with the IG, so ...
Daston wrote:From what I have read in the past Hollywood have tried story boards for 40k but have been shot down by gw due to the way they wanted to change the ip
In what ways? Make it happier, more heroic? Dumber?
The movie 'Warzone' had near nothing to do with the fluff from the game and even the costumes were badly done, being both cheaply done and completely wrong.
40K's not nearly popular enough in the US for Hollywood to really take any kind of notice. Just look at how iconic Spiderman is and has been for the past 40 or 50 years and how long it took before anything was really done with it. Sure a lack of technology played a big part in the wait, but still.
The thing is, an actual feature film wouldn't be financed by Games Workshop. That's not how mainstream Hollywood license films are made. GW would likely be paid for the use of the license, and then the money would be fronted by investors, and the studio that made it. GW doesn't have an in-house film studio.
beezley1981 wrote:40K's not nearly popular enough in the US for Hollywood to really take any kind of notice.
The same could be said of the comic which resulted in the "Priest" movie, tho. Or a number of other obscure franchises which received a movie adaption.
In fact, this reminds me ...
Don't tell me that this P&P is more popular than 40k - I've never even heard of it before having seen the movie. A movie which actually feels quite 40k'ish as well, considering it has boltguns, Aquila banners, drop pods, and mutants.
If GW really wanted, I'm sure they could get investors interested. General IP oversight would be part of the contract, just like their deals with THQ. Games Workshop didn't finance the Dawn of War games either, after all.
No one has mentioned the Lord Inquisitor yet. It's a fan made movie now sanctioned by GW because it's going to be so much better than Ultramarines... if they get a better voice actor than in the trailer that is.. check it out:
beezley1981 wrote:40K's not nearly popular enough in the US for Hollywood to really take any kind of notice.
The same could be said of the comic which resulted in the "Priest" movie, tho. Or a number of other obscure franchises which received a movie adaption.
In fact, this reminds me ...
Don't tell me that this P&P is more popular than 40k - I've never even heard of it before having seen the movie. A movie which actually feels quite 40k'ish as well, considering it has boltguns, Aquila banners, drop pods, and mutants.
If GW really wanted, I'm sure they could get investors interested. General IP oversight would be part of the contract, just like their deals with THQ. Games Workshop didn't finance the Dawn of War games either, after all.
Maybe it's not more popular, but it's based on a comic book, and comic book movies are far more popular that tabletop game movies. Not to mention, a 40K movie would cost 200 million dollars to do right, and that's just not going to happen.
Veteran Sergeant wrote:The thing is, an actual feature film wouldn't be financed by Games Workshop. That's not how mainstream Hollywood license films are made. GW would likely be paid for the use of the license, and then the money would be fronted by investors, and the studio that made it. GW doesn't have an in-house film studio.
Correct, this is what I was saying before.
Automatically Appended Next Post: The thing that annoys me is that if done right it could make a fantastic movie.
Just think about it, Gothic, dark, moody, evil, heroic, tech, battleships, titans, daemons, phychic powers. It really gets the waters flowing.
Like someone said before, this couldn't be a kiddy film this needs to be done right. Can you imagine the public reaction to even a disembodied servitor hanging from a stratagium?
Psienesis wrote:As a note, Mutant Chronicles was never released anywhere other than Russia. It cost an estimated $25mil to make, and has so far made back $1.2m.
English-language torrents are available, though, which is how I saw it.
Huh, that I did not know! I've seen it in English as well. Curious that they never released it elsewhere - one should imagine that an already produced movie should be easy to distribute. But I guess the license holder didn't find a publisher willing to meet its conditions, and thus prefers the movie to rot away unseen. Economy can be strange like this. Which is probably why there's no proper GW movie either.
beezley1981 wrote:Not to mention, a 40K movie would cost 200 million dollars to do right, and that's just not going to happen.
I dunno, I've seen some movies which were able to deliver very impressive scenes with a much smaller budget. Mutant Chronicles is one example, Priest is another. Or District 9. Or Iron Skies. Even the trailer from this Inquisitor fan movie looks quite impressive.
CGI - as it would probably be required for various battle scenes and any space ships - has become fairly cheap these days and, as proven by some of the aforementioned projects, can be replicated in a sufficient manner by dedicated fans in their own home. In general, movies used to be a lot cheaper just a few decades back (as an example, "The Terminator" was producted with a budget of $6.5 mil).
Imho, the excessive amounts of money that are gobbled up by mainstream Hollywood productions these days seem to include a huge amount of waste, likely spent on ridiculous wages or advertisement. If a single actor alone already gets, say, $35 millions out of a $200 million budget (Johnny Depp in PotC 4), then I'm just gonna laugh this off as something going seriously wrong in the biz.
If you want to make a cheap yet impressive 40k movie, do it like the other successful low-budget movies and get good actors with realistic wages.
Lightcavalier wrote:Having just read Storm of Iron, I really believe that it would suite the movie format.
You have a self contained story that encompass guard, ad mech, marines, and traitors...with huge battles and small fights, intrigue, and deception. All without being too long, drawn out, or superfluous.
They could do a cross-over film with another studio to appeal to a larger fan-base. Start off with some IG guys making planetfall somewhere, supposedly to rescue some colony or another, only they find it totally empty and all wrecked up. So they start trying to figure out what happened, maybe with the help of an Inquisitor and his cadre. That's when the Necrons and/or the Tyranid show up and all hell breaks loose.
The battle rages on, IG people dropping dead left and right, a handful of Space Marines that showed up/were located on the planet not enough to stop the bug/undead horde...
... when Derpy Hooves & Co swoop in to the rescue and save the day by, I dunno, doing whatever the hell it is Ponies do to smash bugs and/or Crons.
Psienesis wrote:As a note, Mutant Chronicles was never released anywhere other than Russia. It cost an estimated $25mil to make, and has so far made back $1.2m.
English-language torrents are available, though, which is how I saw it.
The movie was filmed in English, and was released worldwide on DVD in 2009. As well it had theatrical releases in the UK, Canada, and USA (though limited like the Boondock Saints).
It is fully available on DVD in whatever language they want worldwide. Yes it was terrible and made almost no money...but Mutant Chronicles as a whole cannot hold a candle to 40k.
If hollywood ever wants to do 40k they will go big or go home...you might wind up with John Carter or you might not.
I think they should make a film about the horus heresy the amount of histories that there were they could probably make it a trilogy or maybe even a saga
DILL3NGER wrote:Maybe GW should be out there looking for a backer then. It's not often that films are made on thier own nowadays anyway. Most are done in partnership. Marvel comics being a great example of this.
Well, it's still "in association with Paramount Pictures", where I think a lot of money would be coming from. Just like Lucasfilm Studios got the budget for Star Wars from 20th Century Fox.
That being said, Marvel is owned by Disney, so I suppose they should have a lot of money by themselves, too.
I suppose that they would look at it that 40k doesant have a lot of a following I mean look at disney films mostly a family film day marvel a larger following than 40k but I don't believe 40k has a big enough following to give them a profit margin that would interest them even if it did go into profits it would probably be like pocket change to the film company
I guess that's true, even for its position in the hobby it still isn't as widely known. That said, I do believe it could be "sold" to the masses if it just had a promising plot and impressive FX. It's not like every movie needs to have some franchise behind it, after all. Lots get made with an original story that can stand on its own.
This would be the challenge in making a proper 40k movie, I think. Not relying on the franchise but approaching it from a position as if you were trying to replicate the success of Star Wars : A New Hope back when Lucas was still a nobody.
Or at least that's the wishful thinking that the beancounters would have. I think it would be sufficient for such a movie to make any profit at all. Even if it doesn't become a box office hit, it'd still be of value as a simple means of promoting the franchise.
Yeah it could be a way of promoting GW or it could have the exact opposite effect and people just laugh at the film but that being said it most likely to bring more hobbyists so yeah it could be another version of star wars I mean personally I think it would be brilliant to see a GW film and I would go and see it. After that though the film companies would proabably just try and milk it and make another bunch of pointless and disappointing films
the dark king wrote:I didn't really enjoy that book 1 guardsman dies after beating some statistic horus heresy books however I find their generally quite good
I think the point was to emphasise certain aspects of the Imperium that are particularly grim...
In 15 hours it was a combination of the odd bureaucratic errors that cost human life, the strange grinding warfare the Imperial Guard is often used in and the weird beliefs soldiers hold in 40k...
DemetriDominov wrote:No one has mentioned the Lord Inquisitor yet. It's a fan made movie now sanctioned by GW because it's going to be so much better than Ultramarines... if they get a better voice actor than in the trailer that is.. check it out:
Is it finished or is it just a trailer right now? And GW says it's cool?
I don't think it would do well on the big screen. A 40k film should have a bit more bang for your buck. Need action and a future setting to promote the games workshop company
the dark king wrote:I don't think it would do well on the big screen. A 40k film should have a bit more bang for your buck. Need action and a future setting to promote the games workshop company
Not sure what you mean? If there's a larger action based universe out there let me know, I want to know where it's hiding!
No I mean a 40k film is going to probaly be based on a book and that particular book is a bit dull I didn't enjoy reading it so it probably won't be that good on the big screen.
He has a point a 40k movie would have to be somewhere between Avatar and Michael Bay...why I always go back to Storm of Iron
You get siege warfare, tank battles, titan battles, subterfuge, mutation, chaos, space marines, guardsmen, and a strong plot in one neat package (which was already written in a very cinematic fashion)
Automatically Appended Next Post: If I go to watch a 40k movie, I do not want it to be Vietnam/WW2/Starship Troopers (the film). I do not care if I identify with the characters. I want to see giants in power armour rip apart mortals with their bare hands and giant explosions.
And thank you lightcavalier it was exactly as you said not 15 hours but something they can put really big battles in with 8ft tall superhuman giants and very big tanks with lots of overly big explosions
Automatically Appended Next Post: All while mixed in with futuristic settings
Based on some of the movies that have come out recently Tanks and explosions are all that is required for a moderately successful Hollywood film these days..
DemetriDominov wrote:No one has mentioned the Lord Inquisitor yet. It's a fan made movie now sanctioned by GW because it's going to be so much better than Ultramarines... if they get a better voice actor than in the trailer that is.. check it out:
Is it finished or is it just a trailer right now? And GW says it's cool?
Just a trailer, due to be realeased in 2013. Looks cool and considering its a 'fan' based set up just shows what can be done with a little inside knowledge of the universe.
Unit1126PLL wrote:Indeed, what makes 40k isn't the gigantic soldiers or tanks...
...it's the awkward situation the humans find themselves in, the theocratic dystopia that's preferable to the alternative.
It's about the loss of technology, and the heretical pursuit of human progress.
It's about the non-existence of an individual and the grinding, clanging pulse of a galaxy-spanning bureaucracy.
It's about the fall from grace, and the heroism of the individual faced with death and pain.
40k espouses a philosophy I believe which is best summed up in 15 hours.
Combat is combat is combat - go watch Saving Private Ryan or the Terminator or something.
I do agree with a great deal of what you say...but having read 15 Hours, it would be very easy for a studio to strip the 40kness from the film. They would take away all those soul crushing elements you love about 40k and you would wind up with a generic scifi film about a dude getting sent to the wrong place, or worse. 15 hours is just your generic war film with 40k as window dressings.
razor5647 wrote:Based on some of the movies that have come out recently Tanks and explosions are all that is required for a moderately successful Hollywood film these days..
plots??? we don't need those..
I guess that's true as well. In that case, I'm not entirely sure I would want to see that 40k movie. :(
Probably depends on the specifics. I've seen some very actiony movies that consisted of 90% lensflares and explosions lately and some of them actually managed to entertain me. Nothing I'd watch twice, but something I would have wanted to see at least once. So I suppose Space Marines and a lack of plot would be okay if it's at least "popcorn worthy" and has some impressive visuals. On the other hand, missing out on the Grim Darkness means that such a movie wouldn't have much "40k" in it, so the entire point would probably get lost to me.
Maybe using a group of "just tithed" IG from a peacefull Agri-world would be good, since having them to learn about what lies beyond their small world would be the plot-device to show it to the unlearned audience.
The money involved to make a proper movie would be bloody heaps, not to mention the fact that it wuold have to be motion capture, since a space marine suit would be inpractical to make and wear,
and hiring all those animators, and modelers, and voice actors, and texture artist, not to mention just getting backing from investors and hollywood would cost a bomb. In short, no, they will never make a proper 40k movie, since GW just doesn't have the money.
If marvel can afford to make the Avengers (and every movie that led up to it), there's no reason why Hollywood can make a Warhammer 40k movie. It won't be through GW, it'll be through a production studio GW sells the rights to, like Universal or Warner Brothers, or some other studio. Just like they sold the rights to THQ, Relic, and Vigil to make Dow, (*DMO*... if it still exists), and SM. GW still made millions off their IP, and made incredible additions to the genre, and we're all happy that they did it.
I think one reason they haven't made a movie in addition to all the interesting points made thus far, is that GW has pilfered, or rather borrowed, too many ideas from popular culture. All wedged together in a weird mishmash.
Any sci-fi fan worth their salt would only have to take one look at the universe to realize this. I can see it now when the Necrons meet the Cadian IG, some movie goers saying "Hey, look! the Terminators are attacking the M.I. from Starship Troopers!"
The Universe parodies things in such a way that if they were used in a movie it would take away from the grim-dark experience and walk the knife edge of black comedy. Can you imagine what the audience would think seeing the Catachan Rambo IG? Or the Vampiric Blood Angels? The Were-Wolf Space Wolves!?!? Seriously, I think many would just groan under the weight of it all.
When it's just us 40k fan boi's it's not so bad, heck, some of the BL books have been on the New York Bestsellers List. The thing is though, lawsuits would abound if a movie were to be made. Once the audience is widened (eyes are opened) and the money starts rolling in, everyone and their brother that can make a claim to intellectual property rights will be all over them.
Maybe just the Horus Heresy would work since it's Humano-centric and avoids some of the pitfalls I mention. As long as they stick to that basic story it might work.
Then again, maybe people would get off on a movie that taps so many iconic sci-fantasy ideals. The problem would be the law-suits.
I actually work in film and TV, so this discussion really piqued my interest.
First off, I think that you are all wrong (excepting Veteran Sergeant). My guess is that GW has not licensed the rights because any distributor would demand a cut of merchandising. That cut would probably include future (post release) sales of minis as well as all the action figures/costumes/etc. that would come out in Walmarts and Targets around the world. That's the lesson that everyone learned after George Lucas made a fortune (instead of the studios) when he kept merchandising for himself. Now studios know that that is where the money (with this kind of movie) is. There is no way that GW would give up a portion of their core business sales in perpetuity to make this happen.
That huge issue aside, I don't think it would be any more or less expensive to make a 40k movie or cable TV series than a lot of other stuff currently running. It would be a bit CG heavy (which is harder for TV to deal with financially), but it really comes down to script. If the story is strong, bringing an audience into a character's perspective, I think it's possible – regardless of cost. As far as GW not being able to afford it, I don't think they'd have to pay a penny to make it happen. It would be a win-win for them: they'd get tons of new interest in the game, they'd get a cut of the gross through licensing, they'd get a cut of merchandising (but not all, and again that's probably the deal breaker). The studio would pay to make it happen in exchange for larger cuts of all that I mentioned.
As far as popularity: look at LOTR, that was a total niche story and it blew up.
I'd say follow the example of the “Lord Inquisitor” and start a Kickstarter. There's probably some really good CG people in our community, maybe some good cosplay designers, probably some good writers. In my experience if you want a story/film that you like, you better do it yourself. Make the thing (write a script, make a trailer, do something that a studio exec can see and touch beyond minis) and then shop it around. Pete Jackson got the LOTR because he did a ton of legwork before he took it to the studio and Tolkien's family. It's a ton of work though.
Ultramarines the Movie was good in my opinion for the 1st Games Workshop 40K movie, but there needed to be some orks instead of chaos that way there would have be more fighting and less scheming
New story arc/faction every few episodes or season. Start with maybe Desert Raiders (play up the Tallarn schism as the thinly veiled Sunni/Shiite allegory it is, people will just eat this up), then some SoB, Battler Fleet Gothic, Rogue Trader shenanigans and then round out season one with 15 Hours.
Word Bearers omnibus for season two, because feth the good guys blah-blah-blah trope, feth it in the eye.
After "Ultramarines", GW signing off on a 40k movie wouldn't necessarily make me feel more confident in it.
I support the HBO idea, though. I have yet to see an HBO show disappoint me. Well, an HBO show that dealt with a theme of interest to me, anyways. Given the list of their productions, I have only watched a small part of their stuff, but Rome, Tales from the Crypt, Band of Brothers, The Pacific, Deadwood and GoT I liked all.
Dark wrote:Maybe using a group of "just tithed" IG from a peacefull Agri-world would be good, since having them to learn about what lies beyond their small world would be the plot-device to show it to the unlearned audience.
Just like what I think! or make the Book ''Legion'' from the HH series in a movie!
GW is *very* touchy about their intellectual property, since when you get down to it, that's basically all they have. Their games are all a bit crap anyway, they rely almost entirely on the draw of their various universes to keep people buying their models. I imagine they have refused Hollywood's advances based more on control of rights to their IP than anything else. Any movie Hollywood puts out these days is as much about the merchandising as ticket sales, and GW will never give anyone a license to essentially compete with themselves.
This.
We all know that any 40k film will be about space marines.
Imagine they make the movie... and it's awesome. It's rated R, it's all big name stars, it blows your mind, grown men cry in theaters across the world as the ultimate sci-fi film is released.
Now imagine the next day.
The Slurpee cups, the Coke cans, the Happy Meals, the T-Shirts, the winter caps,
the sneakers, the references in every area of pop culture, Oprea's book club says to pick up the newest HH novel....
The 40k noobs...
Millions and millions of 40k noobs...
The vile masters of GW get rich beyond reason and destroy our game beyond anything we could imagine.
Like simply allowing Todd McFarland to make 40k a 28in scale action figure game.
And years later, only we tabletop gamers will remember that it all started with little models.
GW is *very* touchy about their intellectual property, since when you get down to it, that's basically all they have. Their games are all a bit crap anyway, they rely almost entirely on the draw of their various universes to keep people buying their models. I imagine they have refused Hollywood's advances based more on control of rights to their IP than anything else. Any movie Hollywood puts out these days is as much about the merchandising as ticket sales, and GW will never give anyone a license to essentially compete with themselves.
This.
We all know that any 40k film will be about space marines.
Imagine they make the movie... and it's awesome. It's rated R, it's all big name stars, it blows your mind, grown men cry in theaters across the world as the ultimate sci-fi film is released.
Now imagine the next day.
The Slurpee cups, the Coke cans, the Happy Meals, the T-Shirts, the winter caps,
the sneakers, the references in every area of pop culture, Oprea's book club says to pick up the newest HH novel....
The 40k noobs...
Millions and millions of 40k noobs...
The vile masters of GW get rich beyond reason and destroy our game beyond anything we could imagine.
Like simply allowing Todd McFarland to make 40k a 28in scale action figure game.
And years later, only we tabletop gamers will remember that it all started with little models.
What's your point?
I like the part where you describe the best sci-fi movie ever.
Veteran Sergeant wrote:The Ultramarines movie was terrible, lol. Talk about a huge disappointment. The animation was decent, but the story was lackluster, and the whole concept was just kinda stupid. Dan Abnett must have written it half asleep, high as hell on Ambien.
This. It was the most derivative story I've ever seen...and the actual WAR was not nearly what it could/should have been.
Ridley Scott as the director, Aaron Dembski-Bowden writing, and it should be live action. Space Hulk would be a brilliant start, or perhaps focussing on the Imperial Guard fighting the forces of Chaos with the Space Marines supporting. It should be a no-holds-barred 18, as grim and bloody as they can make it, whilst still maintaining a plot, so as not to turn into a bad Japanese horror flick. If I see so much as a sliver of a Hollywood happy ending I shall be getting Khornate on someone's arse.
As for the cast, I'd like to see some less well known people in it.
I think a movie would be awsome but would have to be done based on the space marines and done in cgi, i just think if it were done with actors it would be cheese
Brother Thomas wrote:I bet it will never happen. I mean look what they did to starship troopers. Made them look like IG instead of power armored badazzes
An accurate movie of Starship Troopers would've been a box office bomb. That book sucked ass. Did you know the author wrote it in response to a nuclear treaty between the US and the USSR? He hated those damn commies that he thought we open fire and risk humanity's annihilation, just so that at least we could say we blew up those damn commies.
That said, the author was a very creative guy. Without him we'd never have Space Marines or Tyranids.
The Mutant Chronicles movie is a prime example of what could happen to a 40k movie. I played the board game, and the movie has very little to do with it. Sure, there are some character and faction names taken from the board game, and the whole concept of mutant zombies from outer space, but other than that they've pretty much gone wild. Added steampunk into it and such. Oh, and John Malkovich.
So if there was a 40k movie they'd probably think that the SM don't look heroic enough for Hollywood and design new ugly power armor, and give them lasers instead of bolters because in mainstream sci-fi lasers are the best weapons out there. And Keanu Reeves would play the Emperor. Probably.
If they made a movie that was true to the fluff only 40k fans would like it. And we are pretty much slaves to GW already, so what's to gain from it?
Mutant Chronicles was a low point in both Ron Pearlman and Thomas Jane's careers.
I still think that Storm of Iron would make a good movie.
Note: all of Heinlein's work (to include Starship Troopers) was an expression of his neo-fascist outlook on the world. Not to say this was a bad thing, but he is very blunt about his politics when it comes to his writing. It is also why military people tend to gravitate towards liking Starship Troopers.
Brother Thomas wrote:I bet it will never happen. I mean look what they did to starship troopers. Made them look like IG instead of power armored badazzes
An accurate movie of Starship Troopers would've been a box office bomb. That book sucked ass. Did you know the author wrote it in response to a nuclear treaty between the US and the USSR? He hated those damn commies that he thought we open fire and risk humanity's annihilation, just so that at least we could say we blew up those damn commies.
That said, the author was a very creative guy. Without him we'd never have Space Marines or Tyranids.
The author of Starship Troopers was a big fascist. The movie was in fact supposed to be an adaptation made out of spite to the author, turning the Nazism tones up to eleven in the movie.
Anyway, something which you all need to take into consideration with a 40k movie or TV series is something which the producers of Doctor Who think about all the damn time: how can we make it so casual viewers can watch it? That's why I think Dark's idea is best. Have it with characters who, as far the audience know, are normal people who might live next door, so the audience can identify with them, and then follow them on their journey. If you have a film or series that's focused on Space Marines, the casual audience might just think 'Oh, it's about robots'.
I would love to see a live action movie done in partnership with GW and Universal... imagine the the rides and experiences to be had at universal studios lol...
As long as Michael bay doesnt direct it... First Transformers, now TMNT... I couldnt stand to see a movie about SMs butchered anymore...
Sturmtruppen wrote:If you have a film or series that's focused on Space Marines, the casual audience might just think 'Oh, it's about robots'.
Oh, I don't know. Depends on how the movie introduces people to the setting. There are certain Space Marine Chapters who act more like beefed up superheroes rather than ascetic warrior-monks, after all.
Not that I'd support something like that, but for the casual audience it would work, and some of these Chapters have an impressive fanbase.
To be honest, I'd like to see a SOB version of "Equilibrium" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0238380/). Not the goofy, no emotions allowed story, but one where a Confessor's faith cracks or something. Or something more "Saving Private Ryan" like - don't want to be too right-wing propagandist though (a la Starship Troopers).
CthuluIsSpy wrote:I would like to see a proper 40k movie.
Though it has to have an R rating; I want my grimdark bloodshed dammit, not some toned down kid friendly crap.
The US version of Ultramarines had that. I'm pretty sure because of the whole "guy-gets-shot-the-head-and-his-hollowed-out-head-is-shown" thing.
If they made one, it would have to be based on the book, Fifteen Hours.
Man I remember that too... Im glad they were pretty graphic with the space marine game too... the point of 40K is gratuitous amounts of violence, and if patrick swayzee can get over 232 acts of violence in Red Dawn, then certainly a space marine movie would be rated so as well... and obviously they'd go with ultramarines... because, well thats what GW's answer is for everything, smurf it up... the question is what enemy would they use? I'd say keep it simple for the first one and use the comedic factor of the orks to balance out the darkness of it, then pave the way for a 2nd with eldar and chaos, then throw in more complex races as time went on...
