We finally, again, know the director of the upcoming Warcraft movie, Duncan Jones. Is he talented? Definitely, seriously, incredibly, yes. But can he do Warcraft?
Moon, which Duncan Jones wrote and directed, is one of my favorite films of all time. It’s science fiction at its core without the extra padding that passes as science fiction films currently. While big-budget science fiction films are usually about the action and special effects, Moon is about its intriguing story that makes you question beliefs and wonder at the future. It tells the tale of a man finishing his three year, solitary stay on the Moon operating a mining facility as he comes into a large, personal crisis. I highly recommend you watch the film if you haven’t already. Actually, I recommend you watch it anyway.
The next movie that Duncan Jones directed was Source Code. I can’t say much about it because I haven’t seen it, but I do know that it’s another science fiction film.
Fantasy and science fiction often go hand-in-hand, but they’re actually very different. Jones’ films have been hard science fiction and rather dark. Warcraft is not science fiction, and Warcraft is usually pretty light. Yes, it gets epic, and there are dark moments, but it’s full of humor at every turn. There are definitely stories of the seedy underbelly of society in Warcraft, but they’re usually not the focus.
My respect for Duncan Jones guarantees my extreme excitement at his announcement of the Warcraft even if logically I wonder how applicable his skills will be at directing Warcraft. I never really had high hopes for the movie honestly, so maybe I just feel like there’s nothing to lose, and giving this huge chance to Duncan Jones offers a large gain. Obviously the film will be big-budget, but I really hope it doesn’t feel like that’s all there is to it. I want the story to be meaningful and, well, epic.
At the very least, I trust that this announcement (and the film’s eventual release) will at least drum up interest in and respect for Duncan Jones. That’s a win to me!