Duke Nukem to be Hollywood film

By Robert Purchese Published 9 September, 2008

Max Payne producer heading project.

3D Realms has decided to turn Duke Nukem into a Hollywood film, and has enlisted Max Payne producer Scott Faye to help. And he wants to help.

"I'm working diligently at making a Duke Nukem movie scenario that will live up to the character and its import in the videogame world," Faye told Kotaku. "As is the case with all of my game adaptations, I'd rather not make the movie than make a poor adaptation."

Faye will work closely with Scott Miller from 3D Realms. The pair plan to expand the IP without disregarding the story so far.

Faye spent ten years getting Max Payne a big-screen release - which, incidentally, is 14th November - and wants those involved with Duke Nukem to be happy and confident before studios are approached.

3D Realms is currently hard at work on Duke Nukem Forever. The infamously-titled shooter finally appears to be on track for release, after gameplay footage was aired in June. No date has been stamped on the game.

The developer also plans to release a revamped Duke Nukem 3D for Xbox Live and PC. The most recent estimate was September, so keep your eyes peeled.

Head over to our Duke Nukem Forever gamepage to find out more.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (38) Latest comment 3 years ago

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

  • the_dudefather #1 3 years ago

    Can't wait for a trailer

    DUKE NUKEM

    THE MOVIE

    DUKE NUKEM

    THE MOVIE

  • Gnort #2 3 years ago

    Due for release a week before the sun implodes on itself, rendering the entire solar system a barren, lifeless void. Can't have the movie come out before the game, can we?

  • Triggerhappytel #3 3 years ago

    Is Hollywood really so retarded at the moment that they are having to make games with non-existant stories into films?! What's next - Need for Speed: The Movie?!

  • swede #4 3 years ago

    Doom and Street Fighter they dont really have a story as a game. Yet both of them translated into excellent movies. ;)

  • kangarootoo #5 3 years ago

    @Triggerhappytel

    Well that is kind of what screenplay writers are for. A game with a great story could still turn into a shit film if the screenplay wasn't well written. Its not like they just play the game a lot of transfer whatever they can straight to the screen.

  • Skurmedel #6 3 years ago

    They've already made the Need for Speed movie, they called it "2 fast 2 furious" and actually had less story.

    I would like to see a childrens movie based on a raped version of Commander Keen, that would be in the spirit of the Narnia movies.

  • Doctor_What #7 3 years ago

    It's a business. The goal of all businesses is not to give the best service or entertainment: that is only an goal that is a step on the way to making money, so picking up a vaguely famous game brand is like every other decision.

    You didn't believe that stuff about games-as-art did you?

  • chanderzz #8 3 years ago

    So this director ruins Max Payne and now wants a stab at Duke Nukem? I smell an uwe boll prodigy in the making!

  • johnnybrn #9 3 years ago

    Dont worry this will be shelved as soon as Max Payne fails to get the required return.

  • asphaltcowboy #10 3 years ago

    /is guessing that it will be watered down nonsense probably without any swearing, violence or strippers getting nekkid.

  • LunatikCajun #11 3 years ago

    Proposals to play the lead?

    I suggest Bruce Campbell. He already talks like him.

    Hail to the King baby!

  • Triggerhappytel #12 3 years ago

    @ kangarootoo

    But come on, I mean they're basing it on a game where a muscle-bound guy takes on legions of pig, lizard and brain-aliens that are trying to enslave our women. Surely it would be cheaper to hire a half-decent plot writer than buy the rights to this crap from N-Space. Even if the screenplay is above average, it's just an absurd premise to try to turn into a credible movie.

  • Gnort #13 3 years ago

    @Triggerhappytel
    All they want is the name recognition, they will make up their own plot (which will probably be as rubbish as the one in the game). If you look at most videogame based movies, you'd swear the scriptwriters had no idea what the game was about. All they will have is a main character with a flat top and a cigar, and maybe one or two little nods to the game at certain points in the film.

  • zuljin #14 3 years ago

    @chanderzz
    "So this director ruins Max Payne..."

    Oh I'm sorry you've seen the film?

  • Triggerhappytel #15 3 years ago

    I agree that buying an established franchise gains a certain amount of recognition before the film is even made, however my point stands: wouldn't that money be better spent making an original concept which doesn't carry the stigma of a videogame?

    If they paid n-Space, say, quarter of a million dollars for the licence to make a Duke Nukem movie, why not instead invest that money is hiring a good screenwriter and putting more funds into marketing?!

    This point is moot because this way is harder and less likely to guarantee a return, but I'm just sick of shit movies of games coming out because the studios know they will get a certain amount of viewings because of the brand.

  • Xerx3s #16 3 years ago

    As long as they play the megadeath version of the theme song during the entire film, I'm happy.

  • chanderzz #17 3 years ago

    @zuljin

    no but ive seen the trailer and ive played the games and im pretty sure theres not demons in the games. Also im pretty sure Jim Bravura (spelling) is an old white man not a young black dude.

    Looks to me like the films Max Payne in name only, like most of the Uwe boll films.

  • Artemus #18 3 years ago

    Will they coincide the release with Forever in 2098?

  • asphaltcowboy #19 3 years ago

    im pretty sure theres not demons in the games

    You're an imbecile.

  • bodypopper #20 3 years ago

    The sad thing is this could be out before Duke Nukem Forever.
    At least it will keep some little-known (if you don't give a monkey's about the sport that is) wrestler in work.
    Edited by 1 at 09/09/08 @ 12:05

  • XdarXideX #21 3 years ago

    @chanderzz

    Er... so Bravura being black is a reason why the film is already bad?? The "demons" are Valkyrie... you've played the games so what is the drug called at the center of the plotline? Valkyr. So it must have nothing to do with the games whatsoever right?

    Max Payne is looking fantastic.

    But Duke Nukem? If it's a comedy over action then it could work... but I would pick Mickey Rourke (sp?) even though he's getting old. If they pick Vin Diesel/Bruce Willis/The Rock then I definately won't be watching it!

    EDIT: Also... Faye is the Producer.. not the Director.
    Edited by 1 at 09/09/08 @ 12:14

  • Restart #22 3 years ago

    It's time to kick ass & chew bubblegum..... & I'm all outta ass.

  • Triggerhappytel #23 3 years ago

    @ asphaltcowboy

    Why is he an imbecile? There are no literal demons in the game, although obviously Max has a considerable number of personal and psychological issues which might be personified in the film.

    We will have to wait and see really, although given most movies-of-games and Wahlburg's recent CV, I'm not expecting much.

  • mcmonkeyplc #24 3 years ago

    Gnort got it one.

  • chanderzz #25 3 years ago

    i have my opinions i never expect everyone to agree and dont really feel the need to agrue. Needless to say i will be seeing it in the cinema.

    Whoever suggested bruce campbell, nice. I'd cast him anything because he's hilarious. But in all seriousness not a good role for the part obviously.

    Anyone have any more suggestions?

    EDIT: do feel the need to correct my comment about bravurra as in hindsight it did appear to be racist, my point was merely that the chracter will be different completely to the one in the games. This being an unecessary stray from the source material

    Edited by 2 at 09/09/08 @ 12:39

  • tenma #26 3 years ago

    Is Hollywood really so retarded at the moment that they are having to make games with non-existant stories into films?! What's next - Need for Speed: The Movie?!

    Never heard of The Fast and the Furious, have we? ;)

  • XdarXideX #27 3 years ago

    Understandable but you might want to wait until you've seen the movie and its Box Office progress to make a claim that the Max Payne movie is "ruined".

  • space_ace #28 3 years ago

    max payne trailer looks great! it just needs much, much more shooting, like hard boiled

  • asphaltcowboy #29 3 years ago

    @trig: XdarXideX pretty much covered it. Personally, I like the little bit of artistic license they've taken with it.

  • thisisatempaccount #30 3 years ago

    Duke Nukem - from 3D onwards - has been 80% explosions, 10% schlock culture soundbites and 10% gratuitous and sexualised misogyny (anyone remember the 'mercy' killings? Even as a 12 year old just looking to get off on pixilated (and disappointingly tasseled) boobs I felt kind of sick). So I guess of any game franchise, it makes for the best fit with Hollywood.

    I kind of want to see it though!

  • XdarXideX #31 3 years ago

    @asphalt - Yeah, Max Payne is very stylised. It almost looks kind of Constantine-ish which in my opinion is great. I loved the general atmosphere of that movie.

    I'm pretty certain the Valkyries will be hallucinations/visions. They're creatures that have something to do with taking those who will die in battle from their bodies.

    Anyway this has gone somewhat off topic! Duke Nukem... yes... KTIT!

  • Muddtallica #32 3 years ago

    Restart: LOL. I wasn't expecting that. :D

  • Harlequeen #33 3 years ago

    I'm waiting for Geometry Wars: The Movie.

  • XdarXideX #34 3 years ago

    Facebook: The Movie will be worse than Duke Nukem. Just you wait!

  • captainrentboy #35 3 years ago

    Max Payne does look kind of awesome, the cinematography in general appears to be a cut above the standard Game-Film conversion, and bar the latest Slipknot music video, it's the first time a major motion picture has used the new Phantom HD cameras (They can shoot at something rediculous like 15'000 fps) so it'll at least have some original looking action scenes.
    Back on topic, this is only the producer of Max Payne attached, which basically means bugger all. All they do is sort out the film's financing, location scout, and occasionally hire the various workers needed.
    Edited by 1 at 09/09/08 @ 20:32

  • ExplodingClown #36 3 years ago

    This is all so damned meta. Films of games that ripped off films that ripped off other films, aaaieeee! Too much postmodernism!

    Plus they'd never get Duke's enjoyment of cigars past the USA's bizarre morality police. Stripper blasted with shotgun? No problem! Smoking? Thrice nay.

  • Sar #37 3 years ago

    Ron Perlman?

  • nedgip #38 3 years ago

    oh dear. Max Payne looks shit. This is bound to be far far worse.