Boll plays another video game (movie, that is)

By: Patrick Sauriol
Date: Wednesday, November 05, 2003

Director Uwe Boll sure likes his video games, so much that after helming two movies based on games (HOUSE OF THE DEAD and the forthcoming ALONE IN THE DARK) and announcing he's attached to direct another game-into-movie property (BLOODRAYNE), his production company has snapped up another video game property to turn into a movie, namely Microsoft's fantasy role-playing game DUNGEON SIEGE.

Published by Microsoft Game Studios and developed by Gas Powered Games, DUNGEON SIEGE was released last year, with an add-on pack, LEGENDS OF ARANNA, set for release this month. The game is set in a fantasy kingdom where monsters, magic and mayhem are the order of the day, and players must save their kingdom as well as advance in levels.

Boll KG bought the movie and merchandising rights to DUNGEON SIEGE and is hoping for a late 2004 start to filming. Boll says that the film's budget will be around $50 million dollars, making it the largest production for the director to date. But didn't Uwe already say that the plan was to make a sequel to HOUSE OF THE DEAD and start filming BLOODRAYNE next year? Yup, he did. Busy guy, that Uwe, to find time to make three video game films inside the next fourteen months.

"DUNGEON SIEGE transcends the video game genre and appeals to mainstream entertainment audiences," said Boll in a statement about his new project. "Based on the success of HOUSE OF THE DEAD, I believe DUNGEON SIEGE contains major crossover potential because of its unique blend of action and fantasy, on the order of LORD OF THE RINGS."

Success, eh? After four weeks of release, Artisan's HOUSE OF THE DEAD has grossed slightly over $10 million smackeroos while the movie is currently ranked 27th in overall position on the weekly box office charts. A special edition DVD of the film has just been announced, hitting store shelves on January 27.


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