Colin Farrell and Paula Patton Eying Leads In Duncan Jones' 'Warcraft'

Long in development, with Sam Raimi once at the helm, the big screen version of best-selling video game Warcraft moved forward tremendously earlier this year when Duncan Jones (Moon, Source Code) took over directing duties. It fell out of view for months until Jones' big reveal of some "mood footage" at Comic-Con, and now with production set to finally begin in January, casting is getting underway.

Deadline reports that Paula Patton is negotiating for a lead role, while Colin Farrell is said to be "50/50" on whether he'll sign for another. There are others Jones will have testing out for the major parts in the sword 'n sorcery flick, which will be penned by Charles Leavitt (Blood Diamond). He has the unenviable task of turning the franchise's many different worlds and tones into a cohesive film combining medieval action, fantasy, and science fiction.

While there are no concrete character details, our friends at Bleeding Cool think Patton is up for a character named Lady Taria, described as the "King's Lady". Johnny Depp has been linked to a role since Jones came aboard, and that part may be that of Medivh, a wizard and defender of humankind against demons. Hopefully Depp would do more than just give us Jack Sparrow meets Gandalf. Or perhaps not, because audiences would likely eat that up with a spoon.

Right now it sounds like Patton is the surest thing, and we'll see about Farrell and Depp. Look for Warcraft to arrive during the crowded 2015.