The Frustrating History of John Woo's Metroid Movie



Have you ever wondered why Metroid has never made it to the big screen? Well, one team got close with John Woo directing the action.

00:00 – Intro
03:40 – Chapter 1: Save The Frames
08:25 – Chapter 2: Tiger Hill
11:49 – Chapter 3: Nintendo’s Closed Doors
18:21 – Chapter 4: The Other Other M

Writer & Presenter: Luke Owen
Director: Rosie Nicholls
Producers: Luke Owen, Rosie Nicholls, Laurie Blake
Director of Photography: Laurie Blake
Camera: Rich, Adam Witney
Editor: Rich
Image Researcher: Geoffrey Stanfield
Music: Brandon Syres
Filmed On Location At: The Prince Charles Cinema, Loading Bar
Props provided By: Pure Energy

Sources:
https://www.ign.com/articles/brie-larson-asks-nintendo-to-cast-her-as-samus-in-a-metroid-movie
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2016/02/random_ronda_rousey_always_wanted_to_be_samus
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/07/metal_gear_movie_director_jordan_vogt-roberts_wants_to_make_a_crazy_metroid_movie
https://www.polygon.com/2019/5/8/18536769/super-mario-bros-power-hour-metroid-castlevania-cartoons-dic
https://variety.com/2003/film/news/zide-perry-snags-metroid-pic-rights-1117879233/
https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/05/12/e3-2003-john-woos-sega-2
https://www.ign.com/articles/2012/12/28/whatever-happened-to-the-metroid-movie
https://gamerant.com/metroid-samus-returns-producer-yoshi-sakamoto-interview/
https://www.cnet.com/tech/gaming/metroid-dreads-creator-on-life-among-metroidvanias/
https://www.unseen64.net/tag/tiger-hill-entertainment/
https://collider.com/john-woo-metroid-movie-history-explained/

source

44 thoughts on “The Frustrating History of John Woo's Metroid Movie”

  1. Luke, it's frustratingly amazing to see someone so increasingly good at what they do. Wrestling news- yup that's his thing. Skits and lists- well… He's pretty good at this too.. board game club, botc, cinema quizzes . Shoot he's good at this too? And now brief history content on this topic- you've outdone yourself. I love the presentation, the info is great, and it's a great short listen. Congrats on your success and the hard work refining your talents!

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  2. I once had the opportunity to ask John Woo's second in command about the Metroid movie when he still had the rights to do it, and he dodged that question with the biggest non answer in the world.

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  3. Metroid Other M was a travesty of story telling and the reduction of a strong female character to a very patronising male viewpoint. Even the mechanics of not being able to activate the suit until being told she could do so was an antithesis to the lone adventures of survival prior. If it could be wiped out of the history of Metroid games, it would be a good thing.

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  4. The only way to make a good Metroid movie would be following the steps of Willy's Wonderland. Unfortunately, not a lot of people have watched it. And if you read the sinopsis you aren't going to too. Just go blindly and thank me later.

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  5. With the success of the Super Mario Bros. Movie, the likelihood of Nintendo making more movies of their other game franchises is very high. I, however, feel that whatever comes after Super Mario should not be Live-action but rather some form of animation, whether it's CGI, drawn or even stop-motion because I think that animation will help keep the movies more accurate to the source material both visually and performance wise. The only exception for a Live-action Metroid would be in the style of an 80's Sci-fi flick, unfortunately I think "Modern" Society is too PC for something that cool.

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  6. Bree Larson may want to be Samus but no one wants her to be. She is toxic to anything she touches bc she can't separate her awful attitude from her projects. Just look up the interviews with her and her avengers cast mates. She is insufferable

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  7. I don't think a live action Metroid movie would work anyway. Nintendo should just continue building the multiverse they started with the Super Mario Movie.

    Samus rarely talks, and she spends most of her time isolated on an alien world. An animated movie would be much better, it should be a cross between Wall-E and The Mandalorian, with a silent protagonist who never takes off her helmet until the end credits.

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  8. I find it hard to believe Nintendo had no answers about Samus character after the Prime Trilogy's completion. There was the Zero Mission manga that had scenes in the game boy gallery, there's the whole thing where Retro Studios and Nintendo disagreed on what it meant for Samus to be a Bounty Hunter.
    These talks that Foxhoven had with Nintendo must have been earlier than he (Foxhoven) remembers, right?

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  9. I know you're making a joke about it being impossible for a relatable female hero… But the problem is, nowadays, they don't want to make strong female characters vulnerable enough to have a relatable heros journey… Be it star wars or marvel, the most the females like Ray or American Chavez have to overcome is not believing in themselves enough and needing to realize they are not just awesome but super awesome… And while most people have insecurites they aren't insufferable condescending know it alls as well.. That's what makes them unrelatable, they are overly arrogant and have to overcome a lack of confidence

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  10. Please, god. NOT Brie Larson. I would love to see Emily Blunt or that girl from the new Judge Dredd do it, Olivia Thirby. Hell, even McKensie Davis would be a great pick. All three could carry a solo female lead movie.

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  11. Brie Larson staring as Samus, gross. I am sure they will do a Metroid movie, but I hope she never does the voice. After the whole "Wrinkle in Time" thing and captain marvel movie (maybe movies), I hope that bridge was burnt to the ground and the foundations destroyed. Not to mention the massive dislike to like ratio Nintendo received when they put her in their Animal Crossing New Horizons promotions sent a strong message.

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  12. I think the issue is because Nintendo is so protective of their intellectual properties that half the time, we don't really know what kind of game we're getting till it's in hand. I can think of a few times I saw a game they were making and thought "eh" and just rented it to play it, only to love the game and wish I had pre-ordered it or vice-versa. Honestly, I find it miraculous that Illumination was able to convince Nintendo to let them do the Super Mario Bros. Movie. As for a Legend of Zelda or Metroid movie, I don't think a live action movie for either will happen. I think Nintendo will stick with Illumination and make animated films if both. Oh, if they do, I hope they don't let the MCU Captain Marvell actress anywhere near the role of Samus. She already butchered one of my favorite Avengers with her performance. I don't want that to happen to Samus, too.

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  13. This channel is amazing I love it, and watching this particular video brought back memories I loved reading The Nintendo Power Magazine when I was younger I had a subscription for them. It was also cool to see Luke playing a Nintendo switch that was awesome, as for Metroid I am a fan of that game I would play it during my childhood, and although it was never a movie, it was a television series on Paramount plus I am hoping to be able to watch that soon.

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