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Monster Hunter: Everything We Know About the New Video Game Adaptation

12/8/2020 • 4 min read

Do you like giant monsters? Like, a lot of giant monsters? Do you like seeing RESIDENT EVIL’s Milla Jovovich firing guns? Like, a lot of guns? Combine the two (add a giant flaming sword in for good measure) and you have MONSTER HUNTER. It’s going to be awesome.

Here is everything we know about MONSTER HUNTER, which is adapted from a long-running series of video games from Capcom.

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The Monster Hunter Release Date

MONSTER HUNTER is set to bring a heavy dose of mayhem to theatres on December 18, 2020. If you're thinking the release date has bounced around a bit, you're correct. MONSTER HUNTER was originally set to release on December 30, then it was moved up to Christmas, and then December 18.

Is There a Monster Hunter Trailer?

 

The first MONSTER HUNTER trailer is here!

We’ll probably get another one before release, but the first official MONSTER HUNTER trailer does a good job of setting up the film. This is going to be a movie where Milla Jovovich fights a bunch of cool monsters. On top of that, martial arts master Tony Jaa is in the cast, so we expect to see some cool fight scenes between humans, too.

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What Is Monster Hunter About?

MONSTER HUNTER is based on a long series of video games in which players basically fight bigger and bigger monsters for loot and rewards. The most recent game, MONSTER HUNTER WORLD, is one of the outgoing console generation’s most acclaimed titles. You can bet there will be a new game in the series for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X consoles before too long.

This movie looks a little different than the games, however. MONSTER HUNTER the movie appears to be about a team of tough folks who find themselves in an alternate world or dimension. Wherever they are, it is a place filled with giant monsters they will have to battle to survive.

The trailer hints at some added story details. The team is on a mission to rescue another team, for instance. Maybe they will show up in that Monster world to lend a hand. Tony Jaa’s character appears to be familiar with this place and its monsters. Expect that to play into a significant subplot as well.

So it’s not JUST Milla Jovovich fighting giant monsters. It’s just mostly Milla Jovovich fighting giant monsters.

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The Cast of Monster Hunter

Milla Jovovich is the top star here, and she is surrounded by some great personalities. There's the incredible martial artist Tony Jaa (ONG BAK, XXX: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE) and hip hop star turned actor Tip ‘T.I.’ Harris (ANT-MAN, DOLEMITE IS MY NAME). Meagan Good and Diego Boneta are part of the unit led by Jovovich's character, and Josh Helman and Jin Au-Yeung have parts as well.

Finally, while you don’t see him in the trailer, Ron "Hellboy" Perlman is in the movie as well. Also in the cast: A ton of giant monsters.

The Filmmakers Behind Monster Hunter

 

 

MONSTER HUNTER is directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, who is an old pro at video game movie adaptations. For starters, he already directed Milla Jovovich in a series of video game adaptations (RESIDENT EVIL, RESIDENT EVIL: AFTERLIFE, RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION, and RESIDENT EVIL: THE FINAL CHAPTER). You can see Anderson talking about the new movie via the video above.

But that’s not all. He also directed ALIEN VS PREDATOR, MORTAL COMBAT, EVENT HORIZON, and the DEATH RACE remake. This guy knows what he’s doing when it comes to giant fun, which is exactly what MONSTER HUNTER aims to provide. And if you want a cherry on top of the deal, it's this: The movie was also made with the cooperation of Toho Studio, which is known for the greatest movie monster of all time, Godzilla. That's a giant pedigree.

 

Look back at the evolution of video game movies with us!

 

All images courtesy of Sony Pictures.

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