‘The Division’ Movie Enlists ‘Deadpool 2’ Director David Leitch
Every few years, another movie threatens to finally end the dreaded video game curse. And every few years, we end up disappointed again. But maybe, just maybe,The Divisionwill be the project that finally delivers what has eluded Hollywood for so long: a good video game adaptation.
First, a couple of Oscar-nominated actors joined the cast. Now, a sure-handed filmmaker with the quite the action pedigree has stepped behind the camera:David Leitch, the director ofDeadpool 2andAtomic Blonde.
Varietyreports that Leitch has signed on to helm the adaptation of the bestselling Ubisoft game, taking over for Stephen Gaghan,who initially signed on over a year ago. Leitch is a busy man: he hasDeadpool 2arriving in just a few weeks andplans to soon begin filming theFast and Furiousspin-offHobbs and Shawfor a 2019 release date. Variety says the current plan is forThe Divisionto begin production soon after that.The Divisionis the next film from Ubisoft Motion Pictures, who previously spearheaded the disastrousAssassin’s Creedmovie. Hopefully, this one works out better.Jake GyllenhaalandJessica Chastainare set to star inThe Division, which takes place in the aftermath of a biological terrorist attack that leaves millions dead. The group of the title now attempt to police the desolate streets of New York City, keeping the peace and attempting to prevent further catastrophe. In the game, this ruined city becomes a playground for lots of shooting and lots of loot-collecting – the challenge ahead for the filmmakers is to take this playground and find a worthy narrative to tell within it.
Leitch is a former stunt performer and stunt coordinator who had his big break behind the camera when he co-directedJohn Wick(you know, only the second best action movie of the past five years) with his frequent collaborator Chad Stahelski. While Stahelski went on to makeJohn Wick: Chapter 2(you know, only the best action movie of the past five years), Leitch followed his own path. First, he helmed the very cool, very slick action flickAtomic Blonde, a film whose style and hard-hitting violence makes up for its often incoherent story. And then he landedDeadpool 2, the gig that set him up as the next major player in action cinema.
With Leitch behind the camera,The Divisionwill undoubtedly be a slick movie filled with slick action. However, I wonder if he’ll see the room for improvement that the game so desperately cries for. The politics of the original game are muddled at best, and many video game critics have written at length about how the game seemingly doesn’t understand its sometimes gross leanings. After all, this is a game that asks you to shoot your way through a city full of starving, desperate civilians without blinking an eye.
But this could be an opportunity! The game refused to grapple with its shaky viewpoints, but a movie certainly could. Imagine a movie where Gyllenhaal and Chastain struggle to survive in a post-apocalyptic NYC while also struggling with the moral dilemmas of their very mission! If done right, that will be very cool.
