MASS EFFECT Film Discussion

[IrishJedi]

Since it's now official:

Electronic Arts Inc. today announced that Legendary Pictures, whose successful co-productions include The Dark Knight, 300, Clash of the Titans, The Hangover and Watchmen, has acquired theatrical feature film rights to the hit videogame franchise, Mass Effect. The project will also fall under Legendary's co-production and co-financing agreement with Warner Bros., who will distribute the film worldwide. The producers are in discussions with Mark Protosevich (I Am Legend, Thor) to draft a screenplay based on the epic science fiction game series. Legendary’s Thomas Tull and Jon Jashni will produce the film with Avi and Ari Arad. BioWare co-founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk will serve as executive producers, as will Mass Effect executive producer Casey Hudson.

BioWare’s epic science fiction series takes place in the year 2183 and follows Commander Shepard of the SS Normandy who leads a team on a mission to defeat an ancient alien race that invades the galaxy every 50,000 years, wiping out all organic life. The most recent game in the series, Mass Effect 2, was released in January of 2010, and earned rave reviews from critics worldwide.*

“Mass Effect is a tremendous property ripe for translation to the big screen,” said Thomas Tull, Chairman and CEO of Legendary Pictures. “Mass Effect is a prime example of the kind of source material we at Legendary like to develop; it has depth, compelling characters and an engaging back story. This coupled with Avi and Ari producing and the skills of a great team adapting the screenplay, are the start of turning this smash videogame based property into a successful feature film.”

“We are thrilled to be working with Legendary,” said producer Avi Arad. “EA and BioWare are terrific partners who have created a brilliant piece of fiction with a universe filled with amazing aliens and technology. More importantly, though, they created a parable whose conflicts mirror the ones we currently face in our own world. This story emphasizes the need for all cultures to learn to work together. All this magic is presented in a fast paced action-adventure that makes for the best kind of movie experience.”

“At BioWare, we’ve always thought of Mass Effect as having the depth, emotion and plot twists perfectly suited for an adaptation to a motion picture,” said Casey Hudson. “With Legendary and Avi and Ari Arad attached, we believe that the Mass Effect movie will be an extraordinary entertainment event that realizes our vision for the franchise and thrills fans.”

Pat O’Brien, VP of EA Entertainment added “The mission of EA Entertainment is to take key EA properties and find additional ways to bring these properties to people. We can’t think of a better fit than Mass Effect and we couldn’t be more excited to bring Commander Shepard’s adventures to the silver screen.”

Mass Effect 2 is available on the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system and PC. Assets are available at info.ea.com. For more information on Mass Effect, go to https://masseffect.bioware.com/

 

[The ill Jedi]

I'll start off by saying this, I really hope Weta gets to do the effects!

 

[Darth Waller]

I've never played the games, but I can tell this will be a cool property for the big screen.

 

[plasmid303]

I always believed that a film based on the Mass Effect games will always be unnecessary. The games are cinematic enough and are just like films, except that you have the freedom to control the outcome, and while that's really what makes Mass Effect special. Strip out that control over how you want the story to play out and you lose an integral part of the Mass Effect experience.

But...if they get a good director on board and a good SFX studio (Weta! Legacy!), then I might change my tune.

Oh, and Seth Green needs to be Joker.

 

[The Entity]

I haven't played Mass Effect 2 yet, but I loved part 1! A movie about this would be really awesome IMO, even if it takes away the control like Plasmid said.
They will have to get a good director and screenplay to make the movie work, because the Mass Effect universe is immense and very detailed. Some things need some serious explaining to people who haven't played the games. Furthermore the movie needs the best as possible special effects, especially since a lot of main characters are alien-species. They have to be believable.

 

[BadMoon]

I'm not sure they can take a 30 or 40 hour experience and turn it into a good movie. However, I hope they do. Just not sold on this at all. Would much rather see some other properties get the treatment first.

 

[Shropt]

I love Mass Effect but I will not be supporting this movie. It's just stupid to make a movie before the video game trilogy has even been completed.

 

[jimjimmyjones85]

I think it may work out with the right team and cast.

I can see it coniciding to distribute after the final game comes out.

I can also see it being set as a trilogy even.

It has the meat in the script already... now it just needs a production and cast with the chops to pull it off.

 

[Ra88]

Mass Effect's story can be condensed into a liveaction movie, or they could always go with expanding upon the First Contact War. But I'm not getting my hopes up, it's still a game movie after all.