Raimi chats with MTV news about being faithful to the source material and presenting characters and settings that will be familiar to World of Warcraft players, while still delivering an original story. That's where Robert Rodat comes in.

"I think we would try and find touchstones within the game to make it accurate and true and choose one or some of the lands that are portrayed in the game with as much accuracy and authenticity as possible. But we would have our writer, Robert Rodat, really craft an original story within that world that feels like a 'World of WarCraft' adventure. Only obviously it's very different 'cause it's expanded and translated into the world of a motion picture."

He makes sense. Rodat is known for creating compelling characters in the midst of wartime situations, and the World of Warcraft certainly has its fair share of both.

It bears noting that Saving Private Ryan is one of many pop culture references included in world of Warcraft, with a Saving Private Imarion quest located in Hellfire Peninsula, the first zone on the other side of the Dark Portal. We've gone full circle or something.

'WarCraft' Movie Taps 'Saving Private Ryan' Screenwriter [MTV Multiplayer]

The hot topic currently raging at Blizzard's creatively leaning offices is apparently "What role will Bruce Campbell play?" That's according to Blizzard VP of creative development Chris Metzen, who thinks that Raimi, director of the Spider-Man and Evil Dead trilogies, is "gonna rock it out."

"I keep thinking [Campbell] might make a killer Goblin," Metzen said during today's Warcraft "Epic Loot" Comic-Con panel. "He's got a kick ass chin."

Metzen commented casually that he'd envisioned the actor taking a digital role, perhaps in Gollum style pre-rendered performance.

While Metzen couldn't say much about the Warcraft flick in an official capacity other than "we're prepping all engines to rock" and his comments about a Bruce Campbell cameo weren't confirmation that the actor is signed on, it sure sounds like a good idea.

They have boom sticks in Warcraft, right?

Ain't It Cool is reporting that Sam Raimi (Evil Dead, Spider-Man) has signed on to direct the film version of Warcraft. "It [the announcement] will come out in trades later this week or next," writes Ain't It Cool. "But you can take this one to the bank."

The movie version has been in development at Legendary Pictures for several years now.

Not official confirmation by any means. Stay tuned!

Update: Variety has confirmed that Raimi will be helming the picture. Legendary Pictures and Blizzard will be collaborating with Warner Bros., who will be co-financing and distributing the film.

The movie will be produced by The Dark Knight producer Charles Roven. Blizzard's senior VP of creative development Chris Metzen will co-producer. Raimi is supervising the film's development while shooting Spider-Man 4 next year.

"At its core, Warcraft is a fantastic, action-packed story," said Raimi. "I am thrilled to work with such a dynamite production team to bring this project to the big screen."

The official press release refers to the move simply as "Warcraft" and not "World of Warcraft".

AICN Exclusive Confirmed: Sam Raimi is going to direct WORLD OF WARCRAFT!!! [AICN Thanks to all who sent this in!]

There has been 40 years of different comic books... Writers have had to really get into the characters of the superheroes themselves. They explore their relationships, their loves, their villains, their stories — there's so much more to draw upon...

In the world of video games, it's usually more of an environment or a scenario, not character-based...but they certainly could [be better]. There's World of Warcraft — what an awesome video game! It has such great, adventurous characters in it and such fantastic landscapes and rules... You could make a brilliant World of Warcraft movie — as fine as any of the best superhero movies — if you had the right writers and directors.

Hrm, if only Sam Raimi knew a talented directed able to adapt material to film. If only. There's more insight into this issue over at MTV. Check it out.

Do All Video Game Movies Suck? 'Max Payne' Stars Hope Not [MTV Movie News]