Although movies based on games don't have the best track record, Blizzard Entertainment (World of Warcraft) and Legendary Pictures (The Dark Knight, Watchmen, 300) are looking to buck the trend, going full-steam ahead with an adaptation of the incredibly popular Warcraft PC game franchise.

The two companies just announced that Spider-Man director Sam Raimi will be directing the film.

"At its core, Warcraft is a fantastic, action-packed story," said Raimi. "I am thrilled to work with such a dynamite production team to bring this project to the big screen."

In addition to his work on the Spider-Man trilogy, Raimi previously worked on a number of horror films, getting his start on the Evil Dead series and more recently directing the thriller, Drag Me To Hell. Warcraft will mark Raimi's first time working in the fantasy genre.

"Partnering with Sam Raimi exemplifies Legendary's mandate of marrying the highest quality intellectual property to world-class filmmakers," said Legendary CEO Thomas Tull. "Sam's passion for Warcraft is undeniable, and we know that he will create an incredible film worthy of Blizzard's phenomenal franchise."

The Warcraft series debuted in 1994 and spawned numerous sequels, including the incredibly popular massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), World of Warcraft, which currently boasts a player base of nearly 12 million subscribers. The games are set in the fantasy world of Azeroth, where two different factions wage war over control of the land.

There is currently no information on casting or a release date, but the addition of Raimi is a good sign for the project, which has been in the works since Legendary picked up the rights to the franchise in 2006.
 
 

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