by Tiffany Bechdel on Nov 10, 2015
With all the excitement of BlizzCon this weekend, another big announcement from Activison-Blizzard was mostly missed. In what many would consider to be a surprising move, the company has announced they are opening a television and film studio. As if the World of Warcraft movie wasn't enough, the company plans to roll out even more movies and tv shows based on their more popular gaming franchises. The studio is helmed by former Disney executive Nick Van Dyk.
Currently, a Skylanders kids show is in the works. Featuring a star studded cast, including Ashley Tisdale from High School Musical, this merchandising giant is an excellent choice for the studio's first production. Other games will be visited in the future.
While the decision to open a studio may seem surprising, it really makes sense. Activision-Blizzard has some of the most beloved games of all time, what a smart money-making move to bring them to life via film. While it may have been better to wait until after determining the success of the World of Warcraft film, I think the studio has the chance to be wildly successful. After all, even when they fail at everything else, Blizzard has always known how to make some amazing cinematics.