MSNBC says Metroid needs to be a movie

by David Hinkle { Mar 21st 2007 at 4:25PM }

MSNBC has a neat feature running right now where they talk about the top 5 games that should be movies, noting such highly-acclaimed titles as Halo, Prince of Persia and Metroid. Of course, talk of game-to-movie adaptations probably sends many a chill down your spine, as it does us, but the drool-worthy prospect of seeing Samus take on Ridley on the big screen makes us forget about every bad video game movie ever made. Well, maybe not the one ...
If it were to actually happen, who would you like to see starring as Samus?

[via Go Nintendo]

Tags: metroid, movie, nintendo, samus

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Taedirk @ Mar 21st 2007 4:35PM

First, I'd want assurances that Uwe Boll had been staked, buried under a slab of stone, and had poppy seeds sprinkled around his grave in large enough quantities that he'd be left counting them until the sun rose up and reduced his reanimated body to cinders.

Aubrey @ Mar 21st 2007 4:39PM

Not Angelina Jolie. And not Jennifer Gardner. (both actresses people might suggest for dumb reasons)

Samus is blond, isn't she? Scarlett Johansson might be able to pull off the strong and smart demeanor of Samus.

JC Fletcher @ Mar 21st 2007 4:39PM

Starring as Samus: an anonymous stunt performer who never takes off any part of the suit.

tommy @ Mar 21st 2007 4:41PM

queen latifah

neoimmortal @ Mar 21st 2007 4:41PM

Scarlett Johansen would be my first choice, she's hot, skinny, blonde, perfect for Samus Aran. I would totally see a Metroid movie.

Aubrey @ Mar 21st 2007 4:43PM

Nintendo wouldn't let Uwe Boll direct any of their licenses, not after Postal comes out.

Loban @ Mar 21st 2007 4:55PM

A relative nobody needs to play Samus. A big celebrity just wouldn't work. Someone like Diane Kruger would be cool: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1208167/

mgroves @ Mar 21st 2007 7:04PM

Metroid would not make a good movie. So it should be starring no one. Or Patricia Heaton, who only appears in the movie at the very end when Samus takes off her helmet.

Sketchy Fletchy @ Mar 21st 2007 5:06PM

Hmmm - actually, Scarlett Johansson would be an excellent choice for Samus.

I also pledge my support for the interrment of Uwe Boll in the manner most befitting the undead. Anyone got a heap of garlic?

hvnlysoldr @ Mar 21st 2007 4:57PM

Justin Bailey

RD @ Mar 21st 2007 4:58PM

Scarlett Johansson FTW!

Mr Khan @ Mar 21st 2007 5:11PM

This sounds familiar, wasn't there a Metroid movie in the works, or at least on the workbench at some point in the past?

I agree with Scarlett Johansen, seems perfectly suited for the role, but then again, i always thought Samus' face had a striking resemblance to Drew Barrymore's

But I also don't think it would make a good movie, much like how a Zelda movie wouldn't work, because of the silence of the protagonists (although this might be resolved with the voice-acting in MP3)

Zan @ Mar 21st 2007 5:30PM

I don't know if it'd work, but that's what I think about all game-to-film adaptions.

j.lee @ Mar 21st 2007 5:34PM

Scarlett Johannson would be good. I personally always thought Laura Prepon (Donna from That 70's Show) would've made a killer Samus.

Chris @ Mar 21st 2007 6:47PM

If you say Angelina Jolie I'll stab you in the jaw. Angelina Jolie sucks! (If you got that reference you win). Anyway, I like the idea of Donna from that 70s show. Doesn't really have the bad girl, but hey, if Topher Grace can pull off Venom (we'll just see) I'm sure she can pull off Samus. I don't think the article mentioned this, but they planned for John Woo to make the movie a while ago, to come out in 2006, but it got scrapped. Thank God, because he sucks.
Get a good actress, a good director, and take it in a direction other than JUST the bad ass action flick, and it'll probably do well.

grimjoe @ Mar 21st 2007 11:22PM

my vote would be for charlize theron

Chintz @ Mar 21st 2007 7:11PM

A Metroid movie is the worst idea. Not only is Samus is the least developed Nintendo character (and that's saying a lot), but she's also in armor 99% of the time, which does not translate well onto film at all. Plus the Metroid universe is devoid of any other characters and none of the games have really had much of a story - the Hollywood script writers would have to flesh out the universe a lot and change a lot to make it work and I think this would totally dillute the Metroid-ness of it and make it some generic sci-fi action movie instead.

And that's just assuming they do a competent job of making the movie, which is no safe assmption.

Lady Hitler @ Mar 21st 2007 7:18PM

I hate to break the news to you guys, but I believe about a year ago the producers of Final Destination bought up the rights to the Metroid movie.

Check the link and weep. Metroid will join the ranks of Doom and Daredevil, where the director at the helm is focused on slick presentation and no actual content.

http://www.gamespot.com/gamecube/action/metroidprime/news.html?sid=2909403

Ryan P. @ Mar 21st 2007 8:41PM

Samus needs to be a tom-boy, she's had lesbo vibes written all over her since day one. Scarlett Johannson is a little pip-skweak. Not a beleivable warrior. Samus needs to be a woman not a little girl.

I say Demie Moore or Hillary Swank. Scarlett Johannson can be Samus's girlfriend.

Ryan.

euuuan @ Mar 25th 2007 9:42PM

kathleen turner ;)

dukemeiser @ Mar 21st 2007 9:01PM

I agree Angelina Jolie wouldn't be good for Samus, but she would be fun to stare at.

James @ Mar 23rd 2007 9:52PM

I agree that while I like the IP, there's not much meat on the bone, story-wise. They *could* fill in an awesome story, or they could make another Doom. I'm not sure I'd like to take the chance...

chazz @ Mar 22nd 2007 6:43PM

I think it would be a good anime movie, not a live action flick. They could get away with a good cg film maybe as well. Unless you get the best writers in the world, along with a prolific director and actors that know how much this game means to the fanboys, IT WILL WORK.

jopojelly @ Mar 22nd 2007 4:29AM

Keira Knightley

lynch @ Mar 21st 2007 9:48PM

Yea it does! And thank god they waited til after the 80s and 90s to do it. Metriod would have been horrible if they made it back then.

______________
http://www.howtogetfreewiipoints.com

Shen @ Mar 23rd 2007 11:08PM

I Fully agree, She isn't a boney little Girl, She's tough and shouldn't be played by someone who can't take and give back the hits
one of the black belts at my school would do a lovely job, She's blond, has movie Actress good looks and can tear a man in two

also no stupid ass shots of Her half/semi naked
you want porn go by a porno
I'd just be happy to see Her take Her helmet off at the end of the movie

-Shen

"Samus needs to be a tom-boy, she's had lesbo vibes written all over her since day one. Scarlett Johannson is a little pip-skweak. Not a beleivable warrior. Samus needs to be a woman not a little girl.

I say Demie Moore or Hillary Swank. Scarlett Johannson can be Samus's girlfriend.

Ryan"

Rubang B @ Mar 21st 2007 10:11PM

A Metroid movie would have to be really slow and eerie with atmospheric spookiness all around, like the original Metroid and the original Alien film. However, since the game only has one character, Samus, and she doesn't die, the whole movie will be her killing aliens, so they'll write in a bunch of lame supporting characters to kill off, and some shitty love interest, and blah blah blah, it'll be just like Doom. In fact, I think the Rock should play Samus. Screw this movie.

bo @ Mar 21st 2007 11:11PM

even if scarlett johansson, she would need to leave the suit on most of the time, imo. i think shes gorgeous, but samus doesnt run around with her helmet off during the games.

id just be afraid the producers would be like "hey look its some big actress! give me your money you geek!"

Jack @ Mar 22nd 2007 7:32AM

This is a lose/lose situation for me.
On the one hand I really want a Metroid movie, on the other hand I know it will be shit.
And yes, Metroid has a storyline, but because games are interactive I don't think it will transition very well to a movie.
I mean Metroid is all about finding information, getting some text, slowly finding out more and more about what the hell is going on, and then being the saviour of course.
Metroid is a great game because of the atmosphere it creates. I mean I got into those games so much. I felt there, know what I mean.
How will you put that into a movie you just watch?

lovelain @ Mar 21st 2007 10:48PM

as much as i love samus and (old) metroid in general, i dunno about this. i remember hearing about a metroid movie way back and thought it would be cool, but like others have said...she's the only character and there's no dialogue. the screw attack on the big screen would be sweet, but there's nothing else there.

ssx3master1 @ Mar 22nd 2007 2:30PM

Albeit the idea of a Metroid movie seems rather....baseless, i like Hilary Swank in Samus's armor. Two other good choices would be the elusive Linda Hamilton of Terminator fame, and, in my opinion, the best choice, America's favorite tall woman, Uma Thurman.

Wicket @ Mar 22nd 2007 12:14AM

I think Demi Moore would be a great Samus, she's physicly fit enuff for the role

Kevin @ Mar 22nd 2007 12:52AM

I say Mila Jovovich, now before you yell at me, let me say. She has action movie experience and would look good in the armor. Even tho, she did bad movies she would be good tho. Scarlett would be popular but not too good. So I say Mila.

anonymous @ Mar 22nd 2007 1:29PM

Lucy Liu

Alex @ Mar 22nd 2007 3:20AM

Perfect Dark MUST be made into a game. Of course it should be based of the N64 game, but that would be a kick ass action movie.

Metroid? meh' Don't really see how it could work. But Joanna Dark! Oh yea.

tranism @ Mar 22nd 2007 2:09PM

UMA THURMAN

saul malone @ Mar 22nd 2007 10:58AM

http://mediaviewer.ign.com/ignMediaPage.jsp?media_id=1596414&article_id=373420&channel_id=74&page_title=On+Location+with+Samus&adtag=network%3Dign%26size%3D468x60%26channel%3Dcube%26site%3Dcube_hub%26channel%3Dnews%26type%3Dpartner

found these in yahoo images

Swampy @ Mar 22nd 2007 12:19PM

Miranda Otto. Totally hot, and she showed the witch king the business end of her bad-assery in LOTR:ROTK. Plus she's not the 12-year-old waif that Scarlett Johanssen is. Scarlett's hot, but she would be a terrible choice for Samus. You need someone a little older.
Diane Kruger would also be sweet as hell. Good call, Loban.

Jarrett Kaufman @ Mar 22nd 2007 12:41PM

Metroid movie rights have been floating around for a while.

I've discussed with others the pluses and minuses. There's a way this movie could be truly awesome, and there's a way this movie could suck. The studios are all but guaranteed to go with the latter.

The sucky version includes going with a Zero Mission-style scenario where she's outside of her suit for the vast majority of the movie, much like they removed the battle suits for Starship Troopers. She'd also likely get a sidekick (although to fit the scheme of things it'll probably be a "quirky" robotic or AI sidekick). Odds are she'll end up on a colony full of actual people, probably in a city. She'll also have a main rival, who's also out of her suit the majority of the time. Expect some sort of stealth mission (again, outside of the suit and in the city). Lots of explosions, etc., as well as at least one space battle in her ship. Then one decent-length action sequence in her actual suit, and one in which she probably teams up with her former rival to beat some enemy who's likely human.

The version I want would bare a strong similarity to Castaway in the fact that it would be a nearly solo cast. Samus would be the only human seen or heard from through 90% of the film. The lone bounty hunter feel. She'd receive messages from home base, of course, maybe in the form of a video message, maybe two-way communication (she has to speak sometimes, right?). She could keep her helmet off when in the ship, and a decent amount of time could be spent in the ship to justify seeing her face. But overall there should be no other people. The normal enemies should exist, but they should not speak. We need the feel of the cold, detached bounty hunter. Kill or be killed, no concern over who the enemy is. The one similarity I could justify to the sucky version IS a rival bounty hunter, who could be human. Still, the rivalry should be just as cold and detached, without heavy back story between the characters, or constant chatter. Race for the prize, shoot or be shot. And the other bounty hunter should NOT be defeated. I could even accept at one point Samus and/or the other bounty hunter providing an assist. Not teaming up, just a minor one. Shooting an enemy about to strike, helping the other one not slip off a cliff, etc. Something minor. But then right back to the rivalry. Overall, though, it could concentrate heavily on environments (that new bloom-lit CG environment technique being used so heavily now where the actors only film in front of a green screen might work), enemies, battles, and special effects. Forget emotion, forget character development. Just all-out action, adventure, and a taste of the life of a bounty hunter.

The first one I'd rent because it's Metroid. The second one I'd be pre-ordering midnight tickets for.

jadenguy @ Mar 26th 2007 8:49AM

holy crap i was gonna say scarlett johansson too!

jadenguy @ Mar 23rd 2007 8:44AM