Many gaming studios and publishers are getting into movies. For example we just saw the release of the Warcraft movie, and later this year we can also expect the Assassin’s Creed movie. Let’s not forget there’s also the upcoming Resident Evil movie. So the question is, with so many companies getting into movies, why hasn’t Bethesda?Speaking to Australian website Finder, Bethesda’s Pete Hines says that total control over the movie is something they would want to have. “So we want our developers to decide what our franchises are about and not a movie director, or producer or studio. Even when they say, ‘oh no, you will have total control,’ well, I don’t know anybody who actually has total control over the film adaptation of their video game. If you did, why would you not just make it yourself?”
As to what might make Bethesda finally decide to go ahead with plans for a movie, Hines stated that he wouldn’t be opposed if Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson were to direct an Elder Scrolls movie. “I think if Peter Jackson [Lord of the Rings director] turned up at Todd Howard’s office and said, ‘I want to do Elder Scrolls,’ well that would be a pretty serious conversation you would have to listen to.”
It does sound like Hines could be joking, but this isn’t the first time the idea of Bethesda making a movie of their games has come up. Earlier this year Hines revealed that the company had been in some talks about movies, but nothing really clicked with them which is why nothing has happened to date.