Gary Gygax Movie?

[talien]

Instead, I fear a Facebook creator movie torn between tiresome legal wrangling meets Ally McBeal drama and Jack Black and the DM's d20 of Doom.

Please tell me otherwise. (And I should note that it's certainly intriguing to see Xena Warrior Princess among the screenwriter's credits).

To clarify, and this is my assumption based on my discussions with George, the big budget would be the "fantasy sequences." So this is NOT just a bio about Gary, but also a fantasy realm set of characters and special effects (in whatever legally-approved version of Gary's campaign can be used).

Please note: George Strayton is involved with The Book of Vile Darkness movie: The Big Announcement Revealed Secret Fire Games?

Knowing George, he has tremendous reverence for Gary's legacy and for old school gaming. He's also working with Gail Gygax. These are not folks who are trying to "sell out" Gary.

 

[Guest 85555]

Thanks Talien for the info. I am curious what the focus of the biopic might be. Did they tell you which parts of gary's life would serve as the focus of the story (are we going to see a dramatization of events widely familiar to the gaming community like his battles with TSR or are we going to see it follow a bunch of personal stuff we didn't know about).

 

[Maggan]

M. Night Shaymalan

I wonder what the twist would be?

"I see imaginary people!"

/M

 

[Guest 85555]

I wonder what the twist would be?

"I see imaginary people!"

/M

I think the twist would be gary's been a character in the game the whole time.

 

[nedjer]

To clarify, and this is my assumption based on my discussions with George, the big budget would be the "fantasy sequences." So this is NOT just a bio about Gary, but also a fantasy realm set of characters and special effects (in whatever legally-approved version of Gary's campaign can be used).

Please note: George Strayton is involved with The Book of Vile Darkness movie: The Big Announcement Revealed Secret Fire Games?

Knowing George, he has tremendous reverence for Gary's legacy and for old school gaming. He's also working with Gail Gygax. These are not folks who are trying to "sell out" Gary.

That's a potentially much more interesting prospect and, given that the dude has provided plenty of entertaining fantasy scripts, he sure looks like the guy to take it on. The inevitable danger is wandering-off into the Legend of Dick and Dom, but only time will tell on that.

I'm afraid I am going to have to rule out David Hasselhoff after he asked if George had any thoughts on including a few songs

 

[Herobizkit]

I hope that they feature the Tomb of Horrors in the live-action segments.

 

[Maggan]

I think the twist would be gary's been a character in the game the whole time.

"I AM imaginary people!"

/M

 

[Umbran]

This could be made with a lot less money independently and sold as an arthouse film and be sent to the festival circuit or even better...

It doesn't always have to cost $150M to make a movie.

Did you guys read the article linked in the OP? I quote:

"George Strayton confirmed he is that match, the scriptwriter for a $150 million movie based on Gary Gygax’s life."

Given that quote, I say I'll believe it when I see it. I wasn't arguing about what can be done with movies, in general, but responding to a statement about what the article says this movie is.

 

[talien]

Thanks Talien for the info. I am curious what the focus of the biopic might be. Did they tell you which parts of gary's life would serve as the focus of the story (are we going to see a dramatization of events widely familiar to the gaming community like his battles with TSR or are we going to see it follow a bunch of personal stuff we didn't know about).

Howdy,

George didn't say. My guess is that since the movie is being produced in partnership with Gail Gygax, it's going to cast Gary in a positive light. How much "dirt" will be in the movie is unknown, but I imagine it will be more positively focused on the creation of D&D and less on the drama.

 

[talien]

Did you guys read the article linked in the OP? I quote:

"George Strayton confirmed he is that match, the scriptwriter for a $150 million movie based on Gary Gygax’s life."

Given that quote, I say I'll believe it when I see it. I wasn't arguing about what can be done with movies, in general, but responding to a statement about what the article says this movie is.

I agree with Umbran that the price tag is ambitious, given that the previous two D&D movies cost under $35 million or less.

That said, the budget implies that there's more to this puzzle than George is sharing. I have no idea if $150 million is merely planned, budgeted, in the works, specced out, etc. The word from George is that there's a "big star" attached. If that's true, then the money isn't an issue.

Or to put it another way, if a big star is actually attached (and I'll let you know as soon as I hear), then it should become clear whether or not the price tag is realistic.