Dan Abnett on writing the ULTRAMARINES movie screenplay

If anyone had any doubt about how genuine the producers of this movie were they can rest easy in my opinion now that Dan Abnett is underwriting the script. I say "underwriting" to answer a lot of the concerns that people are expressing about first drafts, editing, etc. Anyone who reads the novels knows the god-like status Dan Abnett has ascended to with his works for the Black Library - but, as he openly admits, he's never written a script for a real 40K movie before - who has???? Games Workshop are steadfast in their protection of this amazing franchise and let's face it - there are people out there that can turn Abnett prose into realized movie script better than Dan alone. You can be assured that the grit, essence and pure character evolution that Dan gives us novel after novel will be preserved.

I'm also not surprised that the Ultramarines are the subject for this first movie venture. I've been a rabid fan of 40K for about 20 years and the Ultramarines were the first aspect I was drawn to all those years ago. Little has changed since then (White Scars rule!) but I am happy collecting armies of pretty much every faction/race because of the awesome way the game/novels/PC games are handled.

It was only a matter of time before someone approached GW with a serious offer. I'm drawing parallels with Peter Jackson and LOTR and JJ Abrams with Star Trek in my mind here.

The discussions about cinema release or straight to DVD are not really factors in my mind because you and me know that even on a straight to DVD release the cult following and huge sales this will generate will push the follow-up into the mainstream immediately. I say look at this as a test-bed, the litmus test. However it is released will be perfectly fine in my mind.

Ask yourself this - are most of your friends that know nothing about the 40K universe ready for a movie like this without the in-depth knowledge we all have on these early blog pages? I am barely able to hold-in my excitement in order to write this without gibbering like a heretic!

If anyone had any remaining doubts about the authenticity of this project, well then that simple schematic of a bolter round got MY juices flowing!

Keep it coming with the artwork and other updates!

Okay, check 0:45 again. Did he say he wrote this script two and a half years ago? And was it me or did he mention the scripts final revision? As in, his script has been re-written by someone else?

Also, has Dan ever done a screenplay before? The way he talks about big new challenge,it seems as if he's a bit new to it. I guess if he is a rookie in that department it would explain all the script revisions!

At 1:03 he talks about 'the unit'. As the movie is going to be a 70min straight-to-DVD release, you dont have much time to cram a lot in, so can we assume the action is centered around a five man squad of some sort (command group perhaps?)

In conclusion, FF Advent Children rocked, so to can this!

Lets face facts having Dan Abnett writing the screenplay for this movie means one thing and one thing only. Awesome lots of Awesome. Face it the man Who brought Characters like Gaunt and Loki to life will satisfy the need for good dialogue, impressive and unique characters and an entrance on to the silver screen that 40K deserves.

I hope this movie can live up to the hype.

The only major issue I have with the film as announced is the lack of mass-market appeal. GW is (and this is all an assumption, mind you; we all know what that means) going to be catering almost exclusively to existing fans of 40K, which is going to eliminate the need for a lot of the more subtle filmmaking techniques which could have been used to introduce Space Marines to a larger audience. Bear in mind, we have no info on the plot, but imagine the type of story Abnett may have crafted! Hes an expert on the Guard, so I'm hoping we see an embattled world teetering on the brink of a fall to Chaos. The desprate Guardsmen defending said planet would be the 'main' characters, to put a human face on the misery of the situation, and to give the average moviegoer someone to relate to. And then, when all seems lost...the Angels of Death swoop in to wreck bloody carnage in the Emperor's name. This allows the Marines to be used as a plot device, highlighting their godlike prowess next to the mere mortals in the Guard. However, as the movie is (I think!) being written for 40K fans I imagine it will be more of a hack and slash with...well, Ultramarines. Like the tiltle says. Not that I'm suggesting the script will be anything less than magnificent, as Dan Abnett is a master craftsman. Just that the awe you feel towards the Ultramarines will be from what you ALREADY know, not what you discover during the film.

Of course, I may have widely missed the mark. I never have been able to hit the side of a Baneblade.

At any rate, however it turns out, I can't wait to see it. Here's hoping it sells well enough for a limited theatrical release!

-Steve

Thank God for Dan Abnett!!!!!
Hope this film is good cause if it's not it will be hard to make more!
btw I hate Ultramariens as much as anyone but they are THE space marine chapter, and if you don't have the boring chapter, it would make the others less fun :)

Dan being the writer gives me complete reassurance as to the movies quality. If i could choose the next movie for them to do it would no doubt have to be the Gaunt's Ghost series by the man of the hour Dan Abnett. Can't wait to see it. Hell i can't wait for a release date.

Depending on how this goes down, they may make more films. I don't know about you guys, but seeing an Imperial Guard Baneblade Company cracking down on some poor heretical souls would be most satisfying on the imax. ;)

Much more reassured by Dan Abnett's involvement. I just hope this doesn't go down the Star Wars route and aim for the PG crowd. W40K is dark and gothic. The good guys execute people for heresy!

I think the task is enormous. This clearly has to be a "set up movie" because it needs to explain what is going on/background quickly and clearly (because non players/fluff readers may also see it). It needs to be successful and capture attention as that would mean...

...they would do more!

My dream is a series of movies covering:

Gaunt's Ghosts
Eisenhorn
Ravenor

More SM chapters.

As for the choice of Ultramarines - well that makes perfect sense. They are ICONIC and would only be considered "boring" by long time players.

Bring it on!!!!

When are they going to give us the DVD release date?

I often imagined the intro to a 40k movie involving a montage of battlefield scenes with a brooding voiced narator detailing from the conquering and undoing of the great crusade, to the scope of administrating a galaxy and how "in the grim darkness..."

As far as Ultramarines, I liked the Pavonis story culminating with the release of the Nightbringer in one of McNeil's books.

IT BETTER BE THE COOLSET THING IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD DAN ABNETT!!!
IM COUNTING ON YOU!!!!

Is it always Ultramarines?
Although, with Dan Abnett as a writer, I'm sure it will turn out great, even if it is about the Ultramarines. :P

I hope that the movie will be blessed by an intricate storyline, decent CGI, and good voice acting.

Abnett, being the write is an added bonus - so long as the other people on the team 'listen' to him, the movie will be great.

I was first gonna wreck my computer after i heard about ultramarines movie. it would never work.
But then, i somehow after searching, found movie called "Damnatus" from youtube. I watched it, and i was amazed. It was clearly Dark Heresy movie, but it was still awesome. If movie with budjet of few thousand dollars works, Ultramarines will work too.

And, you should really watch it, it has awesome ending. Respect.

From all the other posts I think we are all in agreement seeing that Mr Abnett is writing the movie is a great thing!

Personnally I could only see a choice of three Graham McNeil (this movie is about the Ultramarines after all), Ben Counter (Soul Drinkers is there any greater chapter!?), and Dan Abnet.

So seeing that one of my favorite authors, who not only has written about the battlefield of the 41st millenium but about the home front as well, is writing this movie I can only get more excited about this movie!

Here's hoping that he is given right of veto and that his vision is shown on the big screen!!!

P.S. anyone else hoping to see Gabriel Ventris (I know it's unlikely but I can hope!).

This is gonna be so amaaaazingly sweet!!

I love Abnett's stories, I have read novels by many authors by now, but no one makes it so real as him (15/10 for that!).

Though, I'm a bit frightened about the film because it's nearly unreachable to fit in a movie all the storytelling plus the complete interplay between the characters that we are used to, having read Abnett's Sagas, without missing anything.
(I'm not sure if you do understand me)

Anyway, I'm anxiously looking forward to see those Blue Ceramite colosus smashin Hammers into the face of the Emperor's foes on the big screen...

Good luck with the film!!

WAAAAARGHH!!

Jandro.

Abnett + w40 movie = DO WANT!

i'm living with the W40k universe since about 10 to 15 years. im CEO of 2 companys and not really kind of internet and w40k freak.
BUT i reallly really pray, they give Dan Abnett kind of veto-right, so he can EVERYTIME say: "no, thats not that what we wanne see in W40k universe".

this movie is a great step, and can ruin much of the universe of w40k, but with dan abnet in boat, if they listen to him, it will be great.

looking forward for the first teasers.

The choice of Abnett has given the film an enormous amount of credibility, which I know was one of the major concerns for potential viewers concerning the film. The other major concern was authenticity to the WH40K universe, which DA assures us is being attended to.

We can only hope the film is enormously successful, tapping into the psyche of a whole new range of fans, leading to demand for more and more films. One can dream.

I think that Dan Abnett was a good choice, but I wish that Grahm mcneil would be the writer because he did such a good job with the ultramarines books.