Last month it was announced that John Wick and Atomic Blonde director David Leitch will follow up his latest movie Deadpool 2 by becoming the latest filmmaker to attempt to break the dreaded “video game movie curse” with an adaptation of Ubisoft’s Tom Clancy’s The Division.
Speaking to Collider to promote Deadpool 2, Leitch was asked what drew him to the project, and whether he has any concerns given the disappointing performance of the vast majority of video game adaptations.
“It was the world [that drew me in],” said Leitch. “I think the world that those artists created is really compelling, obviously for people who love the game but for people who even—just a cursory look at the artwork and the immersive quality, it’s pretty amazing. I think it also asks some interesting questions about society and putting people in those interesting positions. For me, I thought that was a cool playground.”
“I mean yes and no,” he replied, when asked if he has any concerns. “They’re two different experiences. Obviously the video game you’re telling your own story and it’s so active, and cinema is all about one person’s point of view guiding a story, you’re telling a story. I think sometimes those things are in conflict, but on a project like The Division again it’s like there’s these bigger themes in there that you can pull one out and attach some great characters to and you can have a compelling story, and also given the trappings of the world that people love, I think you can deliver a good movie.”
Leitch went on to reveal that the project is “aggressively moving forward” and the search is currently underway for writers to pen the screenplay for the film, which has Jake Gyllenhaal and Jessica Chastain attached to star.
Before he turns his attention to The Division, Leitch is set to direct the Fast & Furious spinoff Hobbs and Shaw starring Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham, which is set for release in August 2019.
