'Life of Pi' VFX Supervisor on Board for 'Warcraft' Movie

"Life of Pi"

Bill Westenhofer, the Oscar-winning VFX supervisor on Ang Lee’s Life of Pi, is on board as VFX supervisor for Warcraft, a film based on the video games series.

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The title is being produced by Legendary Pictures, Blizzard Entertainment and Atlas Entertainment.

Nick Carpenter, Blizzard’s vp of art and cinematic development has tweeted: “Had my first meeting with the VFX director on the film. We are in good hands. Welcome aboard Bill Westenhofer!”

Duncan Jones will direct from a script by Charles Leavitt. Thomas Tull and Jon Jashni will produce for Legendary along with Atlas Entertainment’s Charles Roven and Alex Gartner, and Blizzard Entertainment. Jones’ producing partner, Stuart Fenegan, will executive produce. Chris Metzen will co-produce for Blizzard.

Production is expected to begin in the fall, and a summer 2015 release is planned.

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Westenhofer won Oscars in VFX for Pi and The Golden Compass. His additional credits at Rhythm & Hues include The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, Stuart Little and upcoming Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters.

The VFX on Pi received considerable attention during awards season, for both the highly-regarded work and the fact that lead VFX house Rhythm & Hues filed for bankruptcy protection during the season. Last month, a wholly-owned affiliate of Prana Studios acquired the company.

Below, watch a THR moderated Q&A with Ang Lee and the people behind his award winning movie Life of Pi.