News out of AFM reveals that Roger Avary will direct a film adaptation of Castle Wolfenstein. The original video game was released in 1981 and spawned a number of sequels, including popular shooters from id Software. Roger Avary is probably best known for his story work on Pulp Fiction and writing the screenplay for Silent Hill. This will be the first project he's directed since 2004.
Although this is currently using the title Castle Wolfenstein, we would be very surprised if this didn't take more of the horror/sci-fi elements from the sequels. Here is the official press release:
SANTA MONICA, CA, NOVEMBER 1, 2012 – Panorama Media and Samuel Hadida announced today the production of CASTLE WOLFENSTEIN. The action-adventure film, inspired by the iconic game franchise, is written and will be directed by Academy Award® winner Roger Avary. Hadida will produce through his Davis Films Productions, and global sales will be handled by Panorama’s Marc Butan and Kimberly Fox. Talks with U.S. distributors are underway.
CASTLE WOLFENSTEIN is an action adventure film in the vein of CAPTAIN AMERICA and INGLORIOUS BASTERDS. The story follows a young US Army Captain and a British Special Agent on a top secret mission to Castle Wolfenstein, where Hitler will be for the unveiling of a new secret weapon. After reaching the Castle, our heroes are confronted with Himmler’s SS Paranormal Division and must fight, not only for their survival, but for a mission that could alter the course of the War.
Hadida explained, “With Roger at the helm, we expect everyone will join us for a wild and fun cinematic ride that will grab contemporary film audiences with the same irreverent, hip, over the top approach that Roger brought to PULP FICTION and the other films he has either written or directed. It is a big action adventure but also strongly character driven and based on a very solid story.”
Fox stated, “We are thrilled to be in business with Samuel and Roger on this amazing project. We have known Samuel for years as a distributor and as a producer who knows the pulse of the marketplace, from his productions of TRUE ROMANCE through the RESIDENT EVIL pictures, and including Roger’s KILLING ZOE and RULES OF ATTRACTION. Both Samuel and Roger bring a really fun sensibility to the screen, and WOLFENSTEIN gives them the perfect opportunity.”
Hadida added, “The film involves a classic assault on the bad guys, who are nominally Nazis, more evocative of INGLORIUS BASTERDS than the actual World War II. It is a vaguely futuristic retro world as fun as CAPTAIN AMERICA, which has recently been reintroduced to the world audience with great success.”
Avary noted, “I’ve been playing the WOLFENSTEIN games since I was a kid, and feel that their outlandish sensibility has deeply influenced my own writing and directing throughout my career. I have always thought WOLFENSTEIN, transformed and opened for the screen to wider audiences not familiar with the games, would be a major cinematic experience, which is why I introduced it to Samuel. He bought the rights, and I could not be happier that we are now embarking on this adventure.”
Panorama is licensing distribution rights at the current American Film Market now underway in Santa Monica.
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