The eagerly-anticipated release of Warcraft is finally upon us, with the first film based on the hugely successful video-game series opening in the UK this coming week [read our review here].
Directed by Duncan Jones (Source Code, Moon), Warcraft tells the beginning of the war of Azeroth, a peaceful realm that stands on the brink of war with orc warrior invaders. Flickering Myth’s Scott J. Davis sat down with the film’s leads, Travis Fimmel (Vikings) and Paula Patton (Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol), at a roundtable interview to discuss the making such a huge film with millions of loyal fans.
The film is one of the biggest and most expansive of the year but while the CGI and effects are massive, it required both stars to get involved with fight scenes and spent a long time preparing for the film. And while Fimmel has some experience of similar expectations after starring in TV show Vikings, Patton had to keep up:
“Lots of training, for both of us. For me they wanted to look like it could potentially be half-orc so aesthetically that began a big of training – lots of protein I had to eat and 2 1/2 hours of training and stunt training and it turned out to be so beneficial for the film.”
Neither of the actors had played the game before they signed on to the film, but both felt they were in good hands with director Jones and some of the cast. Fimmel said: “It was so good to have a director who is a fan of the game – and there was also Rob Kasinsky (Orgrim) who was in the Top 10 players in the world at one time. 18 hours a day. He was single at the time!”
For director Jones this is first huge studio movie after the relatively small Moon and Source Code, and he follows many directors in jumping from smaller films to blockbusters, but Patton says that was the main reason he was so perfect for the project: “I think that’s what made him perfect for it in that sometimes you have to let go of the idea of the scale and the grandeur and really dig in deep to the emotional heart of it and the story – you can have all the flash and spectacle you want but you’ve got to connect with people’s hearts and minds.”
With such a big movie and lots of money and expectation involved, a sequel is something that has been rumored already. When asked if they would return for a second film even if Jones didn’t return, Fimmel answered:
“I signed a contract so I’ve got to do it!”
Patton concluded: “It would be a shame not to because he knows (Jones) how to tell this story and this world and it was such an enjoyable experience that it would be hard to imagine anyone else.”
Warcraft is released in the UK on Monday, May 30th.
Originally published May 28, 2016. Updated April 8, 2023.
