Shadow of the Colossus movie gets a director

It looks like Sony Pictures has found its director for the upcoming Shadow of the Colossus motion picture.

Andres Muschietti, best known for the horror film Mama, will join screenplay writer Seth Lochhead, and producers Barbara Muschietti and Kevin Misher on the project.

Their description sounds fairly accurate, so we’re hoping the team can do the game some justice.  We’ll see.

Read on for the announcement.

Sony Pictures Entertainment today announced that Andres Muschietti has signed on to direct the highly-anticipated adaptation of best-selling PlayStation software title, “Shadow of the Colossus.” Seth Lochhead to write the screenplay (under Muschietti’s supervision). Barbara Muschietti will come on board the project to produce alongside Kevin Misher, who produces through his Misher Films banner.

The Muschiettis’ most recent film was the breakout 2013 horror-fantasy Mama, which the Argentine director helmed and Barbara Muschietti produced, based on their 2008 short. As they join Misher and Lochhead on the project, the filmmaking team will again depict the supernatural in Shadow, set in an epic-scale world filled with mythic giants and disembodied spirits. A fan of the game, Muschietti has a strong vision for the film and its characters, and seeks to translate the immersive game experience into a film that stays true to the human story of a young man attempting to save his lost love by accomplishing a seemingly impossible task … the destruction of the colossi who roam the forbidden land.

Shadow of the Colossus, published by Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studio for PlayStation 2, was directed and designed by revered Japanese video game developer Fumito Ueda. His unique minimalist design and artistic sensibilities have led his games, including Shadow’s predecessor, Ico, to achieve cult status worldwide. Shadow of the Colossus was named Best Game at the 6th Annual Game Developer’s Choice Awards and earned IGN awards for Best Adventure Game and Best Artistic Design. To date, the game has sold over 2.7 million copies worldwide.

“We knew we had our director once we heard Andy’s take on the material ? it was genius,” said Michael De Luca, President of Production. “The themes, characters and supernatural elements of the story have incredible international appeal with fans of the game in the millions.”

Michael De Luca and Andrea Giannetti will oversee the project for the studio.