Blizzard Entertainment and production company Legendary Pictures announced on Wednesday that Spider-Man director Sam Raimi has signed on to direct an upcoming movie based on the Warcraft universe, which has been featured in three strategy games, along with accompanying expansion packs, and a very popular MMORPG, World of Warcraft.
Mr. Raimi was known as a horror director, most prominently for The Evil Dead, before directing the three Spider-Man films. His most recent project was a return to his roots with Drag Me to Hell. His company, Stars Road Entertainment, will produce the film alongside Charles Roven's Atlas Entertainment, which was involved in last year's box office hit The Dark Knight. Warner Bros. will distribute the film to theaters.
Paul Sams, chief operating officer of Blizzard Entertainment, said in a press release: "Blizzard Entertainment and Legendary Pictures have a shared vision for this film and we searched at length to find the very best director to bring that vision to life. From our first conversation with Sam, we could tell he was the perfect choice. Sam knows how to simultaneously satisfy the enthusiasts and the mainstream audience that might be experiencing that content for the first time. We're looking forward to working with him to achieve that here."
Further information about the Warcraft movie, including the storyline, casting, and a release date, is currently pending.