Rumor: Shadow of the Colossus is hitting the big screen

by Xav de Matos { Apr 7th 2009 at 9:30PM }

If the Hollywood Reporter's Risky Business Blog is to be believed, Sony's Shadow of the Colossus is coming to the silver screen. The 2005 critical and commercial hit title from developer Team Ico is reportedly slated for a feature film release from producer Kevin Misher and Sony Pictures.

Don't get too excited. Justin Marks, the guy responsible for writing Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li, is slated to pen the Colossus script but not before finishing up work on the deliciously ironic film Hack/Slash. Its title is presumably based on one-part his writing skill and one-part what he does with licenses under his care, amirite?

This isn't the first time Shadow of the Colossus will be seen on the big screen. In 2007, Adam Sandler starred in Reign Over Me, a film about a man who lost his family during the 9/11 terrorist attacks and played the game to ignore the outside world and escape his deep depression.

Tags: game-to-film, movie, movie-adaptation, rumor, scea, shadow-of-the-colossus, sony

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

Zerokku @ Apr 7th 2009 9:34PM

http://fabelprosaiske.org/images/Fabsam/picard-facepalm.jpg

Is the only proper response -_-

Chyld989 @ Apr 8th 2009 1:45AM

Well, the fact that it was a very cinematic game means it could be good as a movie, but the fact that there was a total of about 8 minutes of (poorly written) plot during the entire game means they're going to basically have to make one up for the movie.

Awesome?

istuffedsunny @ Apr 8th 2009 8:26AM

I think you're confused. There wasn't 8 minutes of plot. Maybe 8 minutes of dialogue, but not plot. The plot is fairly straightforward--kill innocent colossi to revive a loved one. Could it be made into a movie? Sure. Will Hollywood fuck it up? Of course.

Sly (PSN slycooper_rocker) @ Apr 7th 2009 9:35PM

on one hand, it could do well on the bigscreen. on another hand, i don't anything messing up this beautiful game. i'm so confused.

Roto13 @ Apr 7th 2009 9:38PM

It could do well on the big screen if it was handled by a writer and producer who knew how to make movies that don't suck. Unfortunately, that's not the case here.

Markez @ Apr 7th 2009 9:42PM

Yeah I feel the same way, I feel that production-wise and given the style and art direction of the game world and Colussi encounters that the game is pretty damn cinematic as is. The narrative was a simple one, and the lengths I expect they'd go to adapt it to film would potentially cheapen it. Eh, yeah I don't know if I see this coming out well on the big screen.

Obviously they could do some amazing FX on this project, but part of the magic of the game was that it was *you* climbing on these things and bringing them down and without being able to translate that aspect of the experience to film I just don't see it as being very compelling.

Dave @ Apr 7th 2009 10:53PM

i simply do not believe this

Courtney @ Apr 7th 2009 11:14PM

I don't care who wrote/directed this, it just doesn't fit with going to a movie format. The only things that seems like they would translate to a movie well are the actual fights. But it's the total package that makes the game so wonderful and unique: The silences, the lonely runs from temple to Colossus, stopping to admire the view, observing Colossus behavior from a distance before moving in, the alien language. I think the impact and majesty of everything else would be lost trying to make it appeal to movie audiences.

Akamaru @ Apr 7th 2009 11:14PM

Markez is right on the money. One of the best things was that in the game not all of the Collossi attacked you. You CHOSE to kill the poor beasts in order to fulfill your desires. Without that, and of course a decent writer and director who understands the game, this movie will most likely be a insult to Mr. Fumito Ueda's epic vision.

time @ Apr 7th 2009 11:38PM

If done properly this could be a beautiful movie. It should be animated in my opinion though.

BananaBoat @ Apr 7th 2009 11:50PM

If this gets made........ugg......let's be so angry and vocal right now to ensure that it doesn't.

That is all I have to say about that.

seriousam7 @ Apr 8th 2009 1:11AM

All I've gotta say is, he better not turn into a fucking baby

Saria the Cat @ Apr 8th 2009 9:12PM

I think a Shadow of the Colossus movie would be AMAZING. Imagine seeing those glorious beauties in the IMAX? But, like others have said, the game only deserves the best cinematic direction because it is such a masterpiece unto itself.

I am afraid to even give this movie or the rumor the time of day if it is made by an idiot.

NERV @ Apr 7th 2009 9:36PM

Way to kill the movie before it even starts production

MLS @ Apr 7th 2009 9:38PM

After the third or so colossus, the audience would be bored.

mahouneko @ Apr 7th 2009 10:48PM

Dear Joystiq Comment System, F- you.

Moving on, I think the audience would be bored with the movie by the end of the first colossus, especially if that jackass from Legend of Chun-Li is in charge of the script.

There's also the unnerving issue of Hollywood picking up Ninja Scroll and Full Metal Panic. It's like Hollywood is trying to piss off as many people as possible by mutilating good franchises.

http://www.sankakucomplex.com/2009/04/08/hollywood-grabs-ninja-scroll-full-metal-panic/

Stupidiot @ Apr 8th 2009 8:55AM

I just thought I'd add my opinion to the mix. After about half the game, Mario Galaxy just became a complete bore; I wanted to enjoy it, but it just never struck me as fun or engaging. I own pretty much all of the big titles on Wii, yet the only one I enjoyed thoroughly was Zelda TP, as unbelievable as that sounds.

Incidentally, Shadow of the Colossus is probably my favourite game from last gen, and if this film makes it to cinemas before the next Ico game makes it to my PS3, I'll be exceedingly annoyed.

Stupidiot @ Apr 8th 2009 8:57AM

"Dear Joystiq Comment System, F- you."
I second that

Just imagine my comment is a reply to the one below.

tmacairjordan87 @ Apr 7th 2009 9:40PM

I would like them to try and make it more interesting than the game. There were a number of times I started nodding off during the game before I just said enough and got rid of it.

Hyams @ Apr 7th 2009 9:41PM

You have no soul.

tmacairjordan87 @ Apr 7th 2009 9:45PM

No I do...or at least I think I do. Example: Today I bought my first 3 wii games (galaxy, zelda, paper mario) even though I still don't have the system yet, thanks to good deals at gamestop. When I bought them, I had a horrible feeling. It was either my soul draining or my honor, if not both.

Anyway back on topic. I'm not a fan of these artsy games. If I want to view art I'll look at a painting or go to a museum. These artsy games forget to include the thing that makes a game a game...fun.

Hyams @ Apr 7th 2009 9:49PM

You didn't find it fun? It's basically an adventure/puzzle hybrid, with an amazing atmosphere. I loved it (well, what I played of it).

You could argue it's art, but it hasn't got to be. After all, the game's creator doesn't think of it as art - he just thinks of it as a videogame; it can easily be appreciated simply as such, in my opinion.

Sly (PSN slycooper_rocker) @ Apr 7th 2009 10:16PM

@ tmac

that's a mixture of your pride and honor that was rapidly exiting your body. either that, or you went to taco bell before gamestop.

WRE @ Apr 7th 2009 10:18PM

tmac, why are you being such a petulant child? If your soul hurts at the idea of buying two of the best games this generation and one pretty good one then something is definitely wrong with you. Maybe your soul was undernourished and you just compensated by overfeeding it.

And there are plenty of artsy/fun games. Braid, Bioshock, I would count LBP, and without a doubt that list would include SotC. Art and fun are not mutually exclusive...unless you're a moron, I guess. I don't think you are most of the time but that would account for it...

tmacairjordan87 @ Apr 7th 2009 10:26PM

Best games this generation is debateable. Honestly I'm expecting a ho-hum experience out of zelda since it seems like a wannabe OoT, but I'll be honest I'm looking forward to galaxy and even paper mario since I liked the last two.

Oh and I also signed up for club nintendo cause of the point things packed with the games. The rewards are terrible...and yet I'm strangely compelled to buy more wii games to add more points (that's obviously not the only reason I would buy one). It's like 360's achievements in a wierd way.

Fernando Rocker @ Apr 7th 2009 10:39PM

Did you get the component cables?

They make a huge difference compared to the composite cables. Also, I like Zelda, but Twilight Princess is a Gamecube port, so don't expect very good graphics. Well... it does have good models, etc, but the textures are not very good in some parts.

When you play both Zelda and Mario Galaxy, you will see what I'm talking about. You will not find a single muddy texture in Super Mario Galaxy.

And yes, I do have a PS3.

tmacairjordan87 @ Apr 7th 2009 10:44PM

Ah damn I knew I forgot something when I was in line. I'll probably go out and get the cable when I finally get the system.

Insight @ Apr 7th 2009 10:45PM

WHAAAAAAAAAAAATTmac is getting a Wii and Fernando has a PS3!?AM I AT THE SAME JOYSTIQ?!?

Fernando Rocker @ Apr 7th 2009 10:55PM

Yeah, the cables are a must. Not only for the progressive scan, but the colors will be a lot more vibrant.

Super Paper Mario is also good, a little bit different than previous Paper Mario games, but it does have great lines and dialog. Super Mario galaxy is my favorite games this entire gen.

Twilight Princess is the one I'm sure you will not like: I mean, I'm a huge Zelda fan, but to be honest, TP is to me, the less inspired Zelda game. It's like a second version of Ocarina of Time. If you can, I highly suggest you to return Zelda and buy get Metroid Prime 3. The art style is impressive, and so the bosses battles, graphics and music. You will enjoy it more than Twilight Princess.

Courtney @ Apr 7th 2009 11:09PM

@Hyams, take it as a good sign that tmac doesn't like the same games as you.

BananaBoat @ Apr 8th 2009 12:23AM

I agree with Fernando. Zelda TP is fairly uninspired as far as Zelda's go (Although I did love the Midna dynamic). Mario Galaxy on the other hand is one of the greatest games I have ever played, and it brings actual, honest to god innovation to a genre that has stagnated beyond recognition. Oh, and yeah, the component cables make a pretty big difference.

I find it hard to explain to people why Shadow of the Colossus is as incredible as I'm positive it is. The music is incredible, the story is perfect (vague, with an enormous amount of room for interpretation), and the enemies (of which there are only the colossi) are something no one had ever seen before. The way the game strips away most of the trappings of the genre (mini-bosses, drone enemies, leveling up, loot, etc) is also inspired. It may not be the right type of game for those that don't have the patience to spend 10ish minutes between fights, or that need their hand held (the game drops you in and says go) but for those that enjoy something a bit more on the mature side of the genre, it is the best game out there.

It's a shame that Ico isn't in print anymore, and that SOTC is sort of hard to find (I think Amazon still has it). Both games combined are the template (along with Zelda OOT) by which I base the merit of any other game that has come out in the genre since.

Markez @ Apr 8th 2009 12:34AM

@ BananaBoat - Looking down at my games as we speak, I'm noticing my copy of SotC is a PS2 Greatest Hits, I'd have to imagine they're still making 'em, right?

Also, since Xav mentions the movie Reign Over Me, I gotta throw some props to Pearl Jam for their cover of "Love, Reign o'er Me". Just delish.

BananaBoat @ Apr 8th 2009 1:04AM

@markez - There are a few stores that have them online, but I couldn't find one that had it in store (new anyway. Gamestop has it used I'm sure). I bought it for a friend of mine as a gift, and I gave up pretty quick and just ordered it from Amazon because no stores in town have it.

whylekat @ Apr 8th 2009 9:19AM

All games are a form of art.. Get over it!

Stix Remix @ Apr 8th 2009 11:32AM

I must be one of the few people that liked Twilight Princess more than Ocarina of Time. :\

Then again, I got the gamecube version instead of the Wii.

SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread - XBL: SoCoolCurt) @ Apr 7th 2009 9:41PM

that would be awesome in IMAX and 3D. if they could capture the scope of the size of those collosus i would go see it.

Markez @ Apr 7th 2009 9:44PM

Playing the this GAME in IMAX, in 3D, would transcend any gaming experience I can imagine, WHOA

*droooooools

WRE @ Apr 7th 2009 10:18PM

*ejaculates*

jackbauer @ Apr 7th 2009 10:50PM

this was the game,despite what the creators or anyone else says, that made me truly appreciate video games as an art form. IT inspired awe and i never, not even now, have seen anything as beautifully terrifying and incredible as this game.

Courtney @ Apr 7th 2009 11:06PM

I second the motion to play it in IMAX. I would typically beat one or two colossi a night, then just ride around on Agro for a little while appreciating the scenery and maybe looking for one of those glowing lizards.

Brawndo Addict @ Apr 7th 2009 9:44PM

Well this is horrible in all sorts of ways. Not only is it one of the few video games that would adapt very poorly to the silver screen regardless of how well its handled, but much of the game's mythos is never explicitly explained. That works perfectly in the realm of the video game and is one of the many reasons SotC was such a great game. There's no way the screenwriter will just let that go. Expect to see tons of new characters, plot, backstory, explanation, that was never present in the game because the screenwriter wants to 'flesh it out'.

JuanDHexen @ Apr 7th 2009 9:44PM

How about it hits the ps3 first.

Hyams @ Apr 7th 2009 9:47PM

1) Take a game with (almost) no dialogue,
2) and only one real character,
2) where the same action is repeated 18 times,
3) and nothing else happens;
4) hire a scriptwriter whose last videogame adaption was terrible to write the script,
5) instead of Guillermo del Toro, who is a fan of the game.
6) ???
7) Get lynched by SotC fanboys. (This part is inevitable.)