Colossus scripter promises grown-up film

By Tom Bramwell Published 15 April, 2009

Won't introduce a sexy assistant etc.

The man whose job it is to turn Shadow of the Colossus into a movie script has spoken about his love of the "emotional and experiential" core of the game and denied he's going to put a foxy sidekick in it or anything like that.

"This is a game that catches you unaware - it catches you on an emotional and experiential level, not just for the puzzles you solve," Justin Marks told the Hollywood Reporter's blog last week (sorry we're so tardy).

"With a lot of games you're caught trying to please the fans and the mainstream audience," he said. "What's so nice about this game is that it's all seen through such an adult lens, so that what pleases the fans also pleases a wider audience."

All of which is slightly less disturbing than what we were told when the project was announced - in particular about how "some of the characters who appear only momentarily in the game" would be fleshed out.

However, there are still traces of that, especially when Marks tells the blog: "With a lot of games there are so many elements in the universe you spend your time tearing down and tearing down. What's nice about this game is that it's so sparse so you can start building right away."

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (31) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Evolution #1 3 years ago

    I'll believe it when this guy shows an inch of talent.

  • Gnort #2 3 years ago

    I'm still hoping this film gets credit crunched before it hits cinemas. Failing that, I'm just going to pretend it doesn't exist.

  • JohnnyWashnGo #3 3 years ago

    "emotional and experiential"

    Emotional I am familiar with but Experiental?
    What does that mean?

    Edit: Thank you dictionary.com - pertaining to experience. What a naff word.
    Edited by 1 at 15/04/09 @ 09:49

  • beastmaster #4 3 years ago

    Spike Jonze to direct. I would say Terry Gilliam but the project would probably shut down.

  • Agent_Llama #5 3 years ago

    I've already constructed my SotC universe in my head. Don't need Hollywood to ruin it. /cries

  • dr_faulk #6 3 years ago

    "What's nice about this game is that it's so sparse so you can start building right away."

    I take that to mean: "I'm going to add a whole load of crap."

    @beastmaster: A very clever thought. Gilliam FTUW!
    Edited by 1 at 15/04/09 @ 10:10

  • wittynic #7 3 years ago

    "What's nice about this game is that it's so sparse so you can start building right away"


    Dude just doesnt get it. If the game was MEANT to be built on in any more significant a way, Ueda would have done it already. Its meant to be about loneliness, emptiness, etc. Not dialogue, character interactions and a thick plot. What a tool.

  • Toothball #8 3 years ago

    One of the things I enjoyed most about Shadow of the Colossus was the vast landscape. Seemingly empty at first, but with a bit of exploration there were plenty of things to be discovered. Definitely one of the most interesting characters in the game.

  • Erinan #9 3 years ago

    Puzzles? What puzzles?

  • MORZTAN #10 3 years ago

    Unless this gets a billon-dollar budget, and stays true to the quiet and lonely atmosphere of the game, I won't even consider watching it. And since the above two conditions don't match, it probably won't be for me.

  • Eighthours #11 3 years ago

    I'll believe it when this guy shows an inch of talent.

    Indeed. His output so far has been pathetic.

  • penhalion #12 3 years ago

    Who the hell sold movie rights to SotC?

    I'd like them to sell this bridge I have. It's currently located in the center of london but, I'll swear that I own it for purposes of the sale ;)

  • Gearskin #13 3 years ago

    This film will be all adventure crazy with some guy (who is buff) looking to rescue some girl (who is hot) from the giants (which are massive)

    I never played it. That's the impression I get of a movie adaption.

  • menage #14 3 years ago

    @beastmaster

    Gilliam, seeing as his style is way too wacky and and insane I wouldn't want him anywhere near this as well.

    How about Del Toro?

    @wittynic

    It wasn't supposed to be about that at all. It was even was a multiplayer game in the beginning. All the things people got out of it weren't design decisions. Just happy accidents. Try to read up on the Edge interview a year back or so.
    Edited by 4 at 15/04/09 @ 11:43

  • Sonic_D #15 3 years ago

    LEAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL GAME ALONE!

  • Pepeman #16 3 years ago

    Just..no..please...don't....don't do it mister..PLEASE!!!



    But if hollywood NEEDS to do it...im with Beastmaster, hire Spike Jonze. I

  • sneetch #17 3 years ago

    @Gearskin
    This film will be all adventure crazy with some guy (who is buff) looking to rescue some girl (who is hot) from the giants (which are massive)

    I never played it. That's the impression I get of a movie adaption.

    Hmmm... "some of the characters who appear only momentarily in the game" will be fleshed out, eh? Sounds like a "sexy assistant" roller-disco to me.

    To expand on your plot, the guy will obviously be white, look like he has just stepped out of a shaving commercial and have a sassy, probably black, maybe female, sidekick so they can zing off one another buddy movie style. It's 50-50 whether or not he or she will die tragically but heroically.

    It'll make millions!

  • wittynic #18 3 years ago

    @menage

    So you would prefer they made a film based off un-used game concepts, rather than how the game turned out? Some of it was indeed a series of happy conincidences, such as taking out non-boss enemies making you feel even more isolated outside of Collosus fights, but that is obviously something they decided they liked, or they wouldn't have left it in.

  • Ranger101 #19 3 years ago

    If the fucking horse starts to talk, heads are rolling

  • Ranger101 #20 3 years ago

    The only way this would ever come close to justifying itself as a movie, is if it's done in a way similar to The Neverending Story, without the cheesy real-world bits.

  • Gearskin #21 3 years ago

    sneetch... lets rename this "Shadow of the GIANTS: Aw Hell Naw!"

    And get Will Smith involved.

  • Reihn #22 3 years ago

    I really want to chime in on this, but so many others have put my feelings well already (looking at you Agent_Llama and wittynic).

    SotC was beautiful, perhaps the game I have cherished more than any other. I really, really hope this film never sees the light of day.

  • Doctor_What #23 3 years ago

    In fairness to the guy, there's basically no plot to the game, and he's been told to turn it into a film. Of course he's going to add something because it would be about five minutes long otherwise.

    I could see it working in an I Am Legend sort of way, but then again that was based on one of the best sci-fi books ever written (you really absolutely must read it http://ww w.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/18579... ). A guy, wandering through a ruined land, only accompanied by his horse and his memories of love, searching for a way to bring her back to life... It could work, but it would take quite a brave director and writer. Unfortunately, I don't think they've got either.

  • Freek #24 3 years ago

    Even if the film turns out to be sub Street Fighter quality, that doesn't effect the game in any way.
    Just don't watch it, simple.
    Edited by 1 at 15/04/09 @ 14:14

  • Kyle #25 3 years ago

    I'll probably go see it out of curiosity, but it obviously won't be the same. They'd never make a film with barely a word of spoken dialogue and about three characters.

    What worries me most is the quote of someone saying they want it to be LOTR-esqe.

    I wonder what Ueda makes of all this...

  • sneetch #26 3 years ago

    @Gearskin
    sneetch... lets rename this "Shadow of the GIANTS: Aw Hell Naw!"

    And get Will Smith involved.

    I like it, I like it, Jessica Alba or Keira Knightly as the love interest.

    @Ranger101
    the fucking horse starts to talk

    I like it, I like it, Mike Myers or Eddie Murphy to do the voice work.

    Good work people, this is shaping up to be quite a movie! ;)

  • Evolution #27 3 years ago

    @sneetch

    Oh God... :)

  • darc #28 3 years ago

    What amazes me is that the game has stirred up movie interest - despite its having absolutely minimal plot and character content, and despite its actually being familiar to an incredibly small audience - and yet no one is talking about a sequel *game*. Or even a hi-def remake for the PS3 for that matter. The game is beloved by critics and a cult fan following, but is criminally underplayed. Shouldn't you get more people playing the game before expecting them to give a crap about a semi-related (ie. shares the title, and maybe a horse) film?

  • wittynic #29 3 years ago

    Things i can easily imagine happening even with the "serious" writing.

    a) Flash backs to when the girl was alive, how happy her and Wander were together. Also flashbacks to the Elder telling Wander all about the Land of the Dead when Wander was a boy. Flashbacks to an "exciting" scene of Wader stealing the sword, probably from a temple with guards or something.

    b) a member of the Elder's guard being Wanders brother/best friend/friendly rival/unfriendly rival.

    c) only a handful of collossi will be featured, to give them more emphasis in a movie time-frame.

  • LowEnergyCycle #30 3 years ago

    @Ranger101
    "If the fucking horse starts to talk, heads are rolling"

    Haha! Just spat my coffee all over the laptop after reading that.

  • darc #31 3 years ago

    "admit it, despite some nice touches, its still just a boss fight game"

    I don't really think this stands up as criticism one way or another. It's essentially meaningless, since "boss battle" could imply anything. In the case of this game the "boss battles" happened to be comprised of very uncommon (I'll avoid the word "unique" as that's always debatable) game mechanics and presentation. It's this, along with the coherent art direction (coherency here actually benefiting from the absence of plot and character development) and technical achievement that get this game so much attention.

    Overrated? Well, yeah, by the few fans who are outright religious about it. And underrated by the billions of people who wouldn't give it the time of day. And can't you say that about any game, really? Far as numbers go, this game sold less, and was played less, that countless games that aren't nearly as good.

    But I agree, it's just not good grist for the movie mill. Smart money would be going for a remake of the game, or a sequel. PS3, PSP... the opportunities are there.
    Edited by 2 at 16/04/09 @ 18:22