Warning: There are spoilers for Warcraft in this post…
Last night Warcraft director Duncan Jones and producer Stuart Fenegan presented a screening of the movie at the Prince Charles Cinema in London’s Leicester Square. Jones and Fenegan spoke openly about the issues they had making the movie, comparing the studio politics to Game of Thrones at one point, and the director revealed where the story would have gone had Warcraft 2 been green lit (which doesn’t seem likely).
“This first film is about establishing the world, and showing Durotan helping his son escape a dying planet,” Jones told the audience. “So to me the idea over the course of three films would be for Thrall to fulfil that vision of Durotan to create a new homeland for the Orcs. So in [the sequel] it would be the adolescent years of that baby, and anyone who does know their Warcraft stories would know it’s very much a Spartacus story that goes on with that character. I would basically follow that through. And with the human side of it, which is a little less clear of how that would follow, but basically there is an aftermath to this film which would need to be completed. And on the Orc side you’re very much following that baby, Go’el, known as Thrall in the universe, and how he eventually creates the Orc homeland.”
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When asked about introducing more fantasy elements like dragons, Jones was firm on his stance the story of Warcraft was one of family. “My fascination with trying to do Warcraft in three films and the idea of family, is I love the idea of Durotan has sacrificed himself so his son and the people he cares about can survive – I want to see that sacrifice pay off,” he said. “That’s the trilogy. That’s the heart of the story. The rest of it is mumbo jumbo names and shit (laughs). Good shit because Chris Metzen is a wonderful writer, but the heart of the story is someone’s sacrifice because they thought it was worth sacrificing for, and it was a good person who has a good kid and I want that good kid to pay off.”
There have been a few rumblings and rumours that Warcraft 2 could get announced, but Jones is under the impression that it’s unlikely even though he would “grab it by the tusks” if he got the chance. “It’s not up to me,” he said when asked about a sequel. “It’s up to Legendary, and Blizzard, and Universal and too many chiefs. There’s no reason for me to believe there’s any likelihood of it happening other than sheer pig headiness.”
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Warcraft saw Duncan Jones (Moon) directing a cast that included Robert Kazinsky (Pacific Rim) as Orgrim Doomhammer, Dominic Cooper (Captain America: The First Avenger) as King Llane Wrynn, Travis Fimmel (Vikings) as Anduin Lothar, Ben Foster (Ain’t Them Body Saints) as Medivh, Ben Schnetzer (Pride) as Khadgar, Ruth Negga (World War Z), Clancy Brown (Starship Troopers) as Blackhand, Toby Kebbell (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes) as Durotan, Daniel Wu (The Man with the Iron Fists) as Gul’Dan and Paula Patton (Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol) as Garona.
Originally published June 20, 2017. Updated November 30, 2022.
