Devil May Cry is a third-person action game developed and published by Capcom. Debuting in 2001, the series has set a standard for hack-and-slash adventure games such as God of War.
Now I know video game adaptations are notoriously bad, but with the right team of filmmakers I think Devil May Cry could make a solid transition from gaming consoles to silver-screen.
The movie’s mission-statement would be creating an ultra-stylized, gloriously self-deprecating thrill ride. At the very least, it would be a fun way to waste two hours of your afternoon.
Executive Producers
Quentin Tarantino
Creator of Kill Bill and most recently Django Unchained, both of which this film should take its tonal cues from. Tarantino is a known known film aficionado whose guiding hand could lend a project like this the narrative weight it needs to succeed.
Wesley Coller
Wesley Coller has had a prosperous partnership with the proposed director of this “movie” throughout both their careers. It seems only fitting he’d back this venture as well.
Bob & Harvey Weinstein
Co-chairmen of The Weinstein Company, both producers have had a successful working relationship with Quentin Tarantino -- perhaps that would be enough to convince them to lend a hand (or a few $$) with this project.
Producers
Zack and Deborah Snyder
Co-creators of Cruel and Unusual Films; judging by their filmography, they seem very personally invested in their projects. As an observer, I have to admire that. It also helps that they’re quite close with the director I’d like to see handle this movie. Speaking of whom...
Director
Zack Snyder
Two things define Zack Snyder as a director: his distinct visual style and his visceral action sequences. For a project that is literally all about action and style, there really is no better guy for the job than Zack.
Screenwriter
Gary Whitta
The man who was once hired by Warner Bros. to write their American remake of Akira. Whitta excels at describing visual detail, and considering the director I’d like to see handle this movie, it might be a match made in heaven. If he could also bring a healthy dose of humor into proceedings, that would be welcome too.
Cinematographer
Larry Fong
Longtime collaborator with Zack Snyder, Larry Fong is one of the reasons Watchmen and 300 remain so visually breathtaking. It would be almost criminal to keep he and Snyder from working together again.
Tyler Bates
A solid, experienced composer who has worked with Zack Snyder before on 300 and Watchmen. His work may not be iconic, but it’s certainly effective.
Plot Synopsis
Driven by the desire to avenge his mother’s death, mercenary Dante has dedicated his life to exterminating demons on Earth. Yet it isn’t until he accepts a job on the mysterious Mallet Island that he crosses paths with his long-lost brother, Vergil -- and discovers an ancient conspiracy to unleash Hell on earth.
Cast
Chris Hemsworth as Dante
Son of a human mother and the demon Sparda, Dante possesses supernatural strength and nigh-immortality. He’s also hilariously cocky and outright fearless. My choice for this role is Thor himself, Chris Hemsworth. He's got the right look, gravitas, and star power to make Dante memorable. Initially I had chosen Game of Thrones actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, but changed it to Hemsworth due to age complaints.
Chris Hemsworth as Vergil
Dante’s twin brother. Vergil resents his own humanity and seeks to acquire ultimate demonic power. Rather than search for actors who are actual identical twins, why not have the same actor simply play identical twins? It worked for Armie Hammer in The Social Network, and there’s no reason it couldn’t work here. I honestly have no idea if Hemsworth has the range to pull off two polar opposite characters in the same film, but I'd certainly be willing to see him try.
Sienna Miller as Trish
A demon created in the image of Eva, mother of Dante and Vergil. Trish mainly serves as an instrument to lure both Dante and Vergil to Mallet Island. Sienna Miller has played the “action girl” before in G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, though I feel her acting range has yet to be truly tested. Rather than cast an obvious choice like January Jones or Alice Eve, I thought I’d go with something a little different.
Guy Pearce as Arkham
Arkham is the caretaker of Castle Mallet and a secret worshipper of the occult. With the aid of Trish, he hatches a plot to lure the Sons of Sparda to Mallet Island and release his imprisoned master, the Devil King Mundus. Guy Pearce is pitch-perfect in the role of “magnificent bastard” and is just an all-around fantastic actor.
Lizzy Caplan as Lady
A mysterious woman with a vendetta against Arkham, Lady is a human devil hunter who joins forces with Dante. She is eventually revealed to be Arkham’s own daughter, Mary. Lizzy Caplan hasn't been a stranger to playing girls with attitude in both Cloverfield and Mean Girls, so she’d have no problem projecting the same “bad ass” vibe as Dante.
Tony Todd as Mundus (Voice)
Lord of the Underworld, the Devil King Mundus was once sealed away by Dante’s father, Sparda. Now, with the aid of Arkham, Mundus lures Sparda’s twin sons to Mallet Island with the intention of using their blood -- Sparda’s blood -- to break the seal imprisoning him. Tony Todd has the perfect voice to match a nebulous creature of infinite malevolence. Don’t believe me? Listen to his opening monologue from The Candyman.
That's all for now, folks. If you liked what you read, comment below and let me know. If you have any suggestions, ideas, criticisms, whatever, don't be afraid to post them.