Video game adaptation 'The Division' gains a director in Oscar-winning Stephen Gaghan

Image from Engadget

By Darian Scalamoni

            It’s hard to believe that with video game movies continuing to have horrid critical reception as well as box-office numbers that Hollywood wants to continue to go forward with these adaptations. Warcraft and Assassin’s Creed were supposed to break the spell but both films were completely underwhelming. We reported months ago that there would be a big screen adaptation for the video game, The Division, which was the fastest-growing video game franchise ever, would be made. Not only that but Jake Gyllenhaal and Jessica Chastain would star in the movie as well. Now according to Collider, it seems that Stephen Gaghan (Syriana, Gold) is set to helm the movie.

            Gaghan was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for Syriana, which he also directed but managed to bring home a statue for writing Traffic. Even more hopeful for video game fans, Gaghan co-wrote the campaign story for Call of Duty: Ghosts so the guy has experience with video games and story structure. The Division is set within a post-apocalyptic setting in New York City after a spread of the smallpox pandemic. Games play members of the Strategic Homeland Division, whose job is to rebuild operations in Manhattan while also investigating how the outbreak started.

            Stephen Gaghan’s latest directorial effort, Gold which stars Matthew McConaughey will be released worldwide next week. Hopefully along with the other upcoming video game movies like Splinter Cell and Uncharted, we’ll finally be able to say that this genre has spawned good movies!