Shadow of the Colossus

Rejoice! Somebody just completely shut Uwe Boll out of the Shadow of the Colossus film.

Borys Kit at the Hollywood Reporter writes that Canadian writer Seth Lochhead, best known for 2011’s teen-assassin hit Hanna, will write the screenplay for a big-screen adaptation of the PlayStation 2’s most famous art game for Misher Films. This follows news from last May that director Josh Trank signed to helm the project.

Lochhead is also writing a top-secret project for Michael Bay. Trank’s career gained traction after his debut film, Chronicle — a found-footage tale of super-powered teens running out of control — hit big at the box office. He’s also set to write and direct a rebooted Fantastic Four movie. It’s unclear where Shadow of the Colossus falls in Trank’s schedule.

The game follows a lone warrior on a questionably noble quest to destroy 16 magnificent creatures in order to save his lady-love. Met with tepid sales on its initial release in 2005, Colossus became one of the most critically lauded titles of the PlayStation 2 era, frequently called out for its cinematic visuals and deeply affecting story. Sony Computer Entertainment released an HD remix of the game for the PlayStation 3 in 2011.

Hollywood licensed the property in 2009, but outside of an early script by Justin Marks (Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li), Trank and Lochhead’s involvement represents the first real movement the Colossus film has seen in three years.

Of course, this doesn’t guarantee that Shadow of the Colossus will ever make it to theaters. No other production or release information has been announced. But for the moment, at least, the project seems to gotten itself out of development hell. Consider that the first colossus. Only 15 more to go.