King Kong Snaps Up A-Listers
The principles from Peter Jackson's giant simian flick swap their voices and looks for a no-doubt sizeable payout.
In just a few short weeks Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson turns his gaze to another, more hairy franchise: King Kong. The videogame tie-in has been in the works for a while now at Ubisoft's studios in France, where director Michel Ancel is hoping to show audiences what a good movie-turned-game looks like.
For a start, Ubisoft has been working with the Weta Digital special effects team, getting assets for use in the game. Ubisoft has also confirmed that it has snagged the main cast members to reprise their roles.
Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Movie of the Game, as it's officially known (thought that's the last time you'll see it here), will see Oscar nominee Naomi Watts star alongside American funny-man Jack Black (who said he went "full blast" during recording sessions) and Oscar winner Adrien Brody.
The characters in the game have also been modelled on the actors, allowing Ubisoft to give gamers the full Hollywood treatment.
"We want the movie and the videogame to be a shared experience," said Jackson, "So having the voices and likenesses of the actors is very important."
Look for King Kong to hit all current consoles and portables starting 17 November. For more on the game, check out the Ubisoft's official site.
Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo Games