Splinter Cell

JP Liz V1

Doug Liman is in final negotiations to direct Splinter Cell, the adaptation of the Ubisoft video game which the company is developing with New Regency.

Tom Hardy is attached to star in the feature, which is now eyeing an August start date and a planned 2015 release.

Basil Iwanyk of Thunder Road Pictures and Jean-Julien Baronnet of Ubisoft Motion Picture Group are producing. Liman will also produce along with his partner, David Bartis.

Liman’s boarding now brings the project the closest its been to the runway. Cell was previously in development at DreamWorks and Paramount and at one point had Pete Berg attached to direct.

Splinter Cell is one of the big franchises in the video game world, with sales of over 23 million units as of 2012.

The game centers on Sam Fisher, a spy for a secret government organization called Third Echelon which fights terrorists. Eric Singer, who wrote the initial draft of the scripts that became American Hustle, wrote the screenplay.

Liman, repped by CAA, is best known for helming the action movies Mr. and Mrs. Smith and Bourne Identity

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/doug-liman-final-talks-direct-689757


Could be good with Hardy on board

Bipolar Joe

Is Hardy playing Fisher? As much as I like Tom Hardy, he can NOT be Sam Fisher. Fisher is an old dude, a guy who's been in the game since time began. A grizzled, battle worn Mother fucker who is far too tired for your shit. A much older actor needs to be in that role.

Corvo

Bipolar Joe wrote: »

Is Hardy playing Fisher? As much as I like Tom Hardy, he can NOT be Sam Fisher. Fisher is an old dude, a guy who's been in the game since time began. A grizzled, battle worn Mother fucker who is far too tired for your shit. A much older actor needs to be in that role.

Nick Nolte

Hopefully this can be one adaption from the gaming world that does the original justice.

Bipolar Joe

Nick Nolte could play Revolver Ocelot in a MGS movie.

First thoughts are Gregg Henry or Thomas Jane. Dye their hair, be grand. Henry is especially good at looking like a grumpy fed up guy who could just snap your neck. Jane is a nerd who might be happy to play the part, and stay true to the character.

Skittlemon

Ray Stevenson might do well in that part too. His turn in Dexter is what I'm thinking about with this role maybe??

nix

Bipolar Joe wrote: »

Is Hardy playing Fisher? As much as I like Tom Hardy, he can NOT be Sam Fisher. Fisher is an old dude, a guy who's been in the game since time began. A grizzled, battle worn Mother fucker who is far too tired for your shit. A much older actor needs to be in that role.

How bout Jon Hamm? :pac:

constitutionus

who ever it is better at LEAST try to sound like micheal ironside !

Bipolar Joe

Skittlemon wrote: »

Ray Stevenson might do well in that part too. His turn in Dexter is what I'm thinking about with this role maybe??

Jaysus, he popped into my head earlier when I was talking with someone about this.





Fucking PERFECT.

TheDoc

Always thought Clooney could do a pretty good Sam Fisher. He's brought out some pretty chilling performances detached of emotion in recent outings, and thought it might be a runner.

Then again there can be too much emphasis on having an actor who "looks" like the character regardless of ability.

Videogames to film typically flop, and flop hard. If its to be taken seriously, a strong actor would help. So I'd be all for Hardy.

indough

I like the games but the idea of watching a character crawl around in shadows doesn't sound very cinematic

humanji

And if they do it like I play it, then we'll be watching Hardy crouch in the shadows for two hours before hitting the wrong key and jumping in front of the enemies, swearing loudly and then reloading an earlier save.

RobertFoster

humanji wrote: »

And if they do it like I play it, then we'll be watching Hardy crouch in the shadows for two hours before hitting the wrong key and jumping in front of the enemies, swearing loudly and then reloading an earlier save.

Hopefully they get the "Damn it, Fisher, I'm pulling you out!" line in there somewhere

I could see this going the way of Hitman. The basic premise and character design being used, but the stealthy aspect stripped out for more Hollywood action movie appeal.

ancapailldorcha

Looks like it'll just end up being the standard betrayal, action orientated Hollywood fare with the character names and a few gimmicks carried over from the franchise.

helimachoptor

No ones mentioned Michael Ironside yet... just put all the movie in shadow and have him narrate it!

krudler

humanji wrote: »

And if they do it like I play it, then we'll be watching Hardy crouch in the shadows for two hours before hitting the wrong key and jumping in front of the enemies, swearing loudly and then reloading an earlier save.

Or him doing the splits in a hallway, making a balls of dropping on the guy and just pulling out a silenced gun and murdering everyone instead

speedboatchase

ancapailldorcha wrote: »

Looks like it'll just end up being the standard betrayal, action orientated Hollywood fare with the character names and a few gimmicks carried over from the franchise.

Based on what? You've got Tom Hardy on board, Doug Liman directing it, and apparently Ubisoft have tight creative control. All sounds good to me so far.

I think there's big potential in having a spy franchise that unlike Bond and Bourne, isn't about car chases or being on the run. Having, for example, the entire third act play out as an infiltration and exfiltration mission would be like a one-person heist movie.