[Update: Scroll down for a list of additional actors that have been shortlisted for the film].

Whether or not moviegoers are confident in the prospect of a big budget video game film "done right," a lot of studios are banking on making that a reality. For years we've discussed the idea here on Screen Rant that the next big genre boom after comic book movies would be video game adaptations and that reality is now closer than ever. Ubisoft Motion Pictures already has studios and talent signed up for adaptations of their key franchises Assassin's Creed, Ghost Recon, and Splinter Cell and while Legendary Pictures is slowly working away on a Mass Effect movie, they have greenlight a project based on one of the most recognizable game franchises in Warcraft.

Director Duncan Jones, a fan of the games himself, was tapped to help the ambitious and unapologetically fantasy-based adaptation. He earned a stroke of goodwill for making a surprise appearance during the Legendary-Warner Bros. panel at Comic-Con, debuting test footage of Warcraft to offer an idea of what fans could expect from the feature film, and it was one of the highlights of this year's convention.

On the casting front, Deadline has the scoop that Jones and Legendary have made offers for lead parts to Colin Farrell and Paula Patton in the Warcraft film. Patton had lead roles in Deja Vu and Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, most recently starring alongside Mark Wahlberg and Denzel Washington in 2 Guns. Farrell is coming off of Seven Psychopaths and Dead Man Down but according to Deadline is "50/50" on whether or not he'll accept the offer.

Paula Patton in 2 Guns

Farrell earned a lot of geek cred at Comic-Con 2011 where he took the stage twice for the Fright Night and Total Recall remakes and isn't unfamiliar with the genre, having played the titular character in Alexander. With reported plot details on Warcraft hinting that the adaptation will follow the story of the original Warcraft strategy games - focusing on the humans vs. orcs conflict - instead of of the more recent World of Warcraft online game, the two parts the Patton and Farrell are up for are most likely for humans.

According to  Bleeding Cool's previous scoop on the film's story, three characters were namedropped in the wizard Khadgar, the mage Medivh and the knight champion Anduin Lothar - any of which Farrell could have been offered. No details however, were revealed on his or Patton's possible characters.

[UPDATE]

In addition to Farrell and Patton, Deadline is now reporting that Paul Dano (Prisoners), Travis Fimmel (Vikings), Anson Mount (Hell on Wheels), and Anton Yelchin (Star Trek) are also up for possible (undisclosed) roles.

With production beginning early next year for a release in 2015, expect more casting reports soon with official confirmations later this fall. For more on the game franchise and World of Warcraft, head to our sister site, Game Rant.

_____

Warcraft releases in theaters in in 2015.

Follow Rob on Twitter @rob_keyes.

Source: Deadline