The film adaptation of the popular online game "World of Warcraft" is set to film in the Vancouver area, a production that one observer says could save the city's struggling movie industry.
Production Weekly tweeted on Aug. 28 that Legendary Pictures, the company behind blockbusters such as "Man of Steel," "Pacific Rim" and "The Dark Knight," has set up offices in Burnaby's CMPP studios and is set to begin shooting on Jan. 14, 2014.
"Moon" director Duncan Jones will helm the project, which rumours suggest will be a massive fantasy epic in the mould of the "Lord of the Rings" franchise, Collider.com reported.
Film reviewer Jim Gordon told CTV News that "World of Warcraft" could save B.C.'s struggling film industry, which has seen productions move elsewhere due to better tax incentives.
He added that producers are drawn to projects with built-in audiences.
“Whether it's a video game, a book or an old TV show, they're looking for that audience that is already there," Gordon said.
"You look at something like Warcraft, it's got 10 to 12 million people who played it, bought it, traded it around, look at that audience already.”
The film is expected to hit theatres in 2015.
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