How Blizzard Should Cast a Live-Action Overwatch Movie
By Dalton Cooper 31 December 2016
If Blizzard ever decides to produce an Overwatch feature film adaptation, these are the performers we would cast to play the game’s 23 different playable characters.
History has shown that it’s difficult for Hollywood to successfully adapt video games into movies. The general rule of thumb is that most video game movies are bad, but fans have been waiting for a film to break the “bad video game movie” mold. One game-to-film adaptation that could get it done is a movie version of Overwatch, a title rich in lore that’s hardly touched on in the game itself, but could be thoroughly explored in a feature film.
When we talk about an Overwatch movie, though, it’s important to think about who should be cast to play the game’s many playable characters. We initiated our own Overwatch Recall and selected the most suitable performers for all of the game’s Offense, Defense, Tank, and Support heroes.
Offense
Genji – Kazuchika Okada
Before he became a cyborg ninja, Genji was living a life of luxury, enjoying the splendors of his family’s organized crime business without having to get his own hands dirty. His playboy lifestyle stood at odds with the strictness of his family, leading to a life-altering encounter with his brother Hanzo that saw Genji nearly killed, and then later revived as the cyborg ninja Overwatch fans are familiar with.
Japanese actor, voice actor, and professional wrestler Kazuchika Okada embodies a similar personality to that of young Genji, and his rivalry with Hiroshi Tanahashi in New Japan Pro Wrestling somewhat echoes Genji’s conflict with his brother. What’s more, his experience as a professional wrestler could help him perform the stunts necessary to do Genji justice on the big screen.
McCree – Matthew McConaughey
Back when Matthew McConaughey was appearing in films like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation, few would have predicted that he would become the star he is now. His spellbinding performances in Mud and the first season of True Detective eliminated any doubt about his talent as an actor, and also proved he can pull off the gruffness required to play the gun-slinging cowboy McCree.
Like some of McConaughey’s most famous characters, McCree has a complicated past and is more complex than he seems on the surface. McCree was once a member of the violent Deadlock Gang, but after being captured by Overwatch, he joined the team’s covert Blackwatch division instead of serving time in prison. After his stint with Blackwatch, McCree became a vigilante, hoping to do enough good in the world to right the wrongs of his past.
Pharah – Christine Solomon
Egyptian-Canadian actress Christine Solomon hasn’t had a very prolific career so far, but the work she has done has earned her numerous awards. A high profile appearance as Pharah in a hypothetical Overwatch movie, with whom Solomon shares a resemblance, could help her break into more mainstream film and television roles. Pharah’s complicated relationship with her mother Ana could make for some great dramatic scenes where Solomon could really flex her acting muscles and prove herself to mainstream moviegoers.
Reaper – Demian Bichir
Mexican actor Demian Bichir is the perfect age to portray the cunning mercenary and terrorist Gabriel Reyes, aka Reaper. Bichir is talented enough that there’s no doubt he would be able to convey Reaper’s rage over his past, as well as the calm demeanor Reaper tries to maintain on missions. Since Reaper is the former leader of Blackwatch and plays an integral role in Overwatch‘s story, it’s important to cast an actor with the talent of Bichir.
Soldier: 76 – Stephen Lang
If anyone needs convincing that Stephen Lang could pull off the intense military-type that is Soldier: 76, they just need to check out his appearance as Col. Miles Quaritch in Avatar. His similar appearance to the character and his raw talent for acting make Lang a desirable casting choice for Soldier: 76.
Sombra – Giselle Itie
Even though most of Giselle Itie’s acting work has been restricted to Brazil, Itie is not entirely unknown to audiences in other regions. She appeared in the 2010 action flick The Expendables along with a number of high profile talent like Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, and more. Her experience working with some of the action movie genre’s biggest stars should go a long way in helping Itie portray hacker extraordinaire Sombra on the big screen, assuming she can properly convey Sombra’s cheery demeanor.
Tracer – Emma Watson
Adorning the game’s cover and featured in many of its marketing materials, Tracer is arguably the face of Overwatch. The sometimes controversial but consistently popular character would likely be one of the lead roles in an Overwatch movie, so a capable actress would need to be tapped to play her on the big screen. Former Harry Potter star Emma Watson somewhat resembles Tracer, but beyond that she is a proven actress with the significant name recognition needed to get even casual fans to buy a ticket to the theater.
