LOS ANGELES - Sam Raimi, who directed the Spider-Man film trilogy, is now planning to take the "Warcraft" universe to the big screen.
The "Warcraft" world is a fantasy setting that revolves around the conflict between the rival forces of the Horde and the Alliance.
Since its debut in 1994, the computer game has spawned novels, action figures, apparel, comic books, and board games. "Wrath of the Lich King," the latest expansion to the multiplayer online role-playing game, sold more than 2.8 million copies in 24 hours of availability and more than 4 million in its first month.
"At its core, Warcraft is a fantastic, action-packed story," Raimi said in a release Wednesday.
Raimi wrote and directed the cult classic "The Evil Dead" and most recently wrote and directed the supernatural thriller "Drag Me To Hell."
Blizzard Entertainment, which produces the Warcraft games, is teaming up with Legendary Pictures on the movie venture.
"Sam's passion for 'Warcraft' is undeniable and we know that he will create an incredible film worthy of Blizzard's phenomenal franchise," said Legendary Pictures CEO Thomas Tull.
"From our first conversation with Sam, we could tell he was the perfect choice,"" added Paul Sams, chief operating officer of Blizzard Entertainment. "Sam knows how to simultaneously satisfy the enthusiasts and the mainstream audience that might be experiencing that content for the first time."
There were no immediate details on cast or release date.
