January 31, 2013 11:37

Duncan Jones to direct $100m movie based on 'Warcraft' video games

The film will begin shooting this year for a release some time in 2015

Source Code director Duncan Jones is to make a film based on the Warcraft video games.

Jones - the filmmaker son of David Bowie - has signed up to direct a live-action adaptation of the hugely popular gaming franchise from Blizzard Entertainment. With over 10million subscribers worldwide as of October (2012), World Of Warcraft is currently the world's biggest MMORPG - or "massively multiplayer online role-playing game".

Taking to Twitter to confirm his involvement, Jones posted:

So the gauntlet was thrown down ages ago: Can you make a proper MOVIE of a video game.Ive always said its possible.Got to DO it now! ;)
— Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) January 31, 2013

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jones's Warcraft movie is "expected to have a budget north of $100 million (£63 million)". This is a big step up for the director, who made his first film, 2009's Moon, for just $5 million (£3.1 million), and followed it with 2011's Source Code starring Jake Gyllenhaal, which cost an estimated $32 million (£20 million).

Warcraft has a script by Blood Diamond writer Charles Leavitt, but plot details are being kept under wraps. The film will begin shooting this year for a release some time in 2015.