AGE OF WUSHU Game Trailer
It’s been a long, long, long time since my hands have touched a video game of any kind. But I always enjoyed them when I was much younger, especially the usual favorites like Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, the first three Marvel vs. Capcom installments, etc. That said, whenever these types of games end up with a film deal, there are always fair opinions on them, but it’s always exciting to see how someone applies their creativity in bringing that level of fantasy to a cinema platform, whether it takes a live-action approach, or if it uses a CGI-based approach similar to that of director Youichi Mori’s 2011 epic fighting thriller, Tekken: Blood Vengeance.
At any rate, opinions or not, the trend continues with films like Spy Hunter, Assassin’s Creed, Mortal Kombat and the next Resident Evil chapter on the way. And joining that list, is another game I’m not nearly familiar with called Age Of Wushu.
The game orginally took five years to develop before its launch in China under its original title, The Age Of Wulin. In April of this year, the game eventually made its way to America under its new title, courtesy of Snail Games USA.
Age Of Wushu is described as an intricate, Wuxia-style massive multiplayer internet game set in China during the 15th century under the Ming Dynasty where players can choose a character to develop between one of eight schools, and one of 17 life professions on which to survive and thrive ranging anywhere from caligrapher to herbalist and poison maker. But not for nothing, as Hero Complex describes it, “it still comes down to the fighting.”
The folks over at Flesh Eating Zipper acquired a statement from the founder and chairman of Snail Games USA, Shi Hai, who spoke highly of the latest move for the game as it inches its way toward the big screen. “The Age of Wushu game looks and plays like a major martial arts motion picture so bringing the property to movie screens is a logical evolution,” he says. “Our goal has always been for the property to reach the widest audience so evolving to a feature film and expanding the experience to consoles and mobile devices continues our plan.”
If that’s the case, then I’m already sold. But what’s more compelling is the film’s use of Jet Li’s likeness in the game. Though that may not necessarily mean a starring role for the newly somewhat-retired actor, best known for high-profile martial arts action classic films like the Once Upon A Time In China film series, Fist Of Legend, Black Mask, Lethal Weapon 4, Kiss Of The Dragon, Unleashed (a.k.a. Danny The Dog), Fearless, The Forbidden Kingdom, both installments of The Expendables so far, and the high-wired buddy cop action flick, Badges Of Fury. But that doesn’t necessarily mean he won’t play some kind of an active role, being the game’s spokesperson.
Anyway, all hype aside, if we see more headlines about this property and interest remains for the folks at Snail Games USA it will be safe to say this film will eventually happen. But what do you think?
QUESTION 1: Are you looking forward to Age Of Wushu on film?
QUESTION 2: If so, do you prefer live-action or a CG animated feature?
QUESTION 3: Who would you like to see cast for a potential live-action version for the movie?