In 2012, the news appeared in the game industry, according to which Hollywood directors began to create a film on the Universe Deus Ex. There were no special details at that time, and after a couple of years we became aware that the production was stalled, in connection with which the film adaptation decided to cancel. So what is the history of this project? Let’s figure it out!
Directors Scott Derrickson worked on the script of the failed film. Robert Kargill, who had previously released a successful commercial horror film “Sinister”. As the basis for their new film, the game DEUS EX was taken: Human Revolution, telling the story of Adam Jensen, a former policeman who became the head of the physical security service Sharif Industiza. During the performance of official duties, Adam was seriously wounded, after which he could not survive without mechanical augmentation. His broken limbs were replaced by high -tech combat implants, which turned Adam into a real murder car.
Augmentation in the world of Deus ex is not uncommon. Some, like Jensen, are forced to use them for survival, while others voluntarily cut off parts of their body and install mechanical implants. In this regard, the tension between the Augam and the Pure is growing in society. Augam also has to rely on a medicine that prevents the rejection of implants by the body, and which, often makes them drug addicts.
Producers saw the potential in the film adaptation of such a game thanks to the oppressive atmosphere of Cyberpan in the style of “running through the blade”, as well as a huge expanse for setting combat scenes. Unfortunately, Derrickson was forced to leave the project, as he was redirected to the production of Dr. Strange.
We have achieved really impressive progress in writing the script. For this I and Kargilla were invited by good people from CBS Films. The process was quite positive, and it was even more painful for me to leave the project for the sake of Dr. Strandju. I perfectly understood that the team could not just wait for me for the next couple of years.
Scott Derrickson in an interview with Empire Online
With the departure of Derrickson, the project began to gradually fall apart.
I cannot say that I fully understood the argumentation of the studio at that time. They stated that Deus ex is not the film that they would like to work on. They also said that their current development strategy consisted in the transition from militants such as “faster than a bullet” with Dwayne Johnson to something more like a “simpleton”. Of course, after the departure of leaders in the person of Derrickson and Kargill, the film simply died.
Scott Kinni – Executive Director Prime Universe Productions
Working in the Hollywood producer company, which acquired the rights to film adaptation of Deus Ex, Kinny first made small sketches to attract the attention of the heads of the studio. Only after that they began to invite the scenarios to the team.
After we determined the scriptwriters who, as it seemed to us, are suitable for this project most on the basis of their previous works, we also selected a small number of candidates who presented their versions of the plot. My attention was attracted by the duet Derrickson and Kargill, for from the very first day they showed the initiative and enthusiasm in the wake of the success of their “Sinister”. They delved into the world of Deus Ex and wanted to embody it on the screen. Of course, we hired Scott not only for writing the script, but also for directing ..
I really feel very sorry that CBS Films failed this project because I believe that Scott could really make almost the first magnificent adaptation of video games in the entire history of the movie. His work on Dr. Strande showed that he knows how to develop the theme of the "superman" from different sides and harmoniously embedded in it adventure action for a mass audience. Replace the mysticism of Dr. Strangja Transgumanistic theme Deus Ex, and you will receive all the ingredients for the film that could become unforgettable, or at least get ahead of your time.
Scott Kinny in an interview with USA Today
From what has been preserved, Kinny noted a small excerpt of the script, which dates from 2014. Let’s now take a look at what we could get in the end.
The film starts with the quotation of Albert Einstein and the morning training of the protagonist:
Technical progress is similar to an ax in the hands of a pathological criminal.
Albert Einstein
START:
The sound is deep and measured, like a metronome, breathing contrasts with legs blows along asphalt.
Ext. Jogging – predawn time
Dull sunlight illuminates the slowly current river. Light is reflected from the dewy of the grass. The drop is trembling and falling. A pair of rapidly moving treadmills is visible. The camera follows them.
The camera rises slowly to show their owner. The then impregnated shorts and Mike cover the athlete’s body – long and lean, with well -expressed muscles.
He turns off the treadmill towards the open -air training ground – horizontal bar, free weight, obstacle course, etc. D. When he slows down, we see his face: 30-year-old, handsome, with a pile of dark hair. This is a man in his prime. Attention is focused on his deep eyes, talking about his high intelligence.
This is Adam Jensen.
Ext. Open training venue – predawn time
Jensen approaches the horizontal bar, grabs him and begins to pull himself up. His muscles begin to tremble and he slows down.
He jumps to the ground, landing on his hands. Next are push -ups.
Then he goes to dumbbells weighing about 180 pounds. He sits on a bench and begins the exercise. At the same time, his biceps tremble – fourteen repetitions, fifteen … If the body is a car, then it brings it to the limit. The muscles refuse.
He lies on the bench, panting heavily. The first straight rays of the sun wash it. When it rises above the horizon, its light is refracted in the colors growing nearby.
After that, we move to Jensen’s apartment, where he is talking with his girlfriend, Dr. Megan Reed. In the script, it is described as "beautiful and well -read". They talk sweetly and enjoy the moment, but they are interrupted by a news report on a terrorist attack. A group called PURITY FIRST attacked the production facility Sharif Industiz. Megan asks Jensen if he agrees with them that the augmentation is inhuman:
Jensen:
“I understand them. There is a difference."
Megan:
“Augmentation helps people."
Megan:
"What are you doing?"
Jensen:
“I feel you."
Megan:
(smiles)
“And the cybernetic hand, in your opinion, cannot?"
Jensen:
“Not so clearly."
Megan:
“Augmentations do not affect who you are, Adam."
Jensen:
"No. But they influence what you are.
If you want me to be augmentated, then I will do it. For you. But I do not want to ever lose these feelings … "
On the way to the Sharif Industry, a pop -up announcement reminds Jensen that he still has not used the advantages of his company – free augmentations. He walks through the hologram, ignoring it. He also tries to prevent Megan from throwing a trifle of a drug addict with augmentation.
When they reach their workplace in Sharif Industiz, we are introduced to all key characters, including David Sharif, the founder of the company.
Soon after this, we are https://fortuneclockcasino.co.uk/ introduced to the main antagonists: Elena Fedorova, Jaron Namir and Lawrence Barrett. All of them are mercenaries who seem to work for PURITY FIRST. They are preparing to attack the building in which Jensen is located.
Int. Lobby – Sharif industry building
Flashing light and sounds of anxiety. A dozen armed security officers Sharif in body armor and helmets with military equipment burst into the lobby, while the guards lead employees to the elevators. One of them reacts when a metal box glides to the guards. There is an explosion.
The shock wave throws the guards. Others raise their weapons and move through the smoke curtain. After a small pause behind the guards, a loud shot is heard. One of them falls dead with a hole in the chest. Security officers begin to shoot when Barrett appears from smoke.
He takes off his coat and demonstrates the body. Once he was a man, but now it is a four -hundred -mudfound monster with mechanical implants and a human head. Everything starting from the neck is replaced by chrome cybernetic augmentations of the military level.
His face is covered with scars from fire and battles, and what used to be his eyes turned into glossy-black digital displays.
If something in this world should make you think about the moral side of the augmentation, then this is Barrett.
According to Kinni, they wanted to call Stephen Lang to the role of Barrett, and Bradley Cooper was considered as Adam Jensen. Nevertheless, the case never reached the casting.
During the attack, Jensen thinks that the mercenaries here because of the Typhoon is a secret weapon that is in the development of the ball, but they are actually here because of something under the name "Daedalus".
Barrett:
"Where" Daedalus "?"
Megan shakes his head. Barrett’s gaze switches to Elena.
From the hand of Elena, the blade is sharp. It slides down the Megan’s chest, to her stomach and lingering on her thigh. A thin blood train appears following the trail from the blade.
Barrett:
“I respect your principles, doctor. I really respect.
But nothing of what David Sharif owns is not worth your self -sacrifice."
Megan looks at him with hatred.
Barrett:
"… but this is only my opinion."
(turns to Elena)
“Let her blood."
Elena is going to fulfill the order, but then the help bursts into the room. Fighters knock down Elena and disorient Barrett.
Jensen shoots a container with a coolant. The liquid evaporates when contacting the air, forming a thick white fog closing the review.
The camera is at Megan. Jensen runs up to her and grabs her hand.
Jensen:
"Went!"
Together they run.
Barrett walks through the fog looking at nowhere. Elena and Jaron appear to his left, like ghosts.
Suddenly Barrett’s vision changes to infrared and he can distinguish between two running figures.
Barrett:
(He speaks in a cold tone Elena and Jaron)
“To catch up."
The mercenaries eventually catch up with Jensen and beat him to half to death, mocking that thanks to the augmentations they are much faster, stronger and smarter than he. They throw it through the mirror window, leaving glass fragments sticking out of his body.
Despite the abundance of brutal military scenes, the creators never planned to make a film with the rating R:
At a time when Deadpool has not yet become an exceptional hit with Rating R, in the United States, large studios were not interested in allocating a large budget for the film, which is intended only for an adult audience. But if we shot this film now, then certainly Deus Ex would be released with rating R.
Scott Kinny
The next part of the script is very different from the game, although according to Kinni, the film crew actively talked with Eidos Montréal employees who worked on Deus Ex: Human Revolution.
Each appeal that we have ever written to manage the studio was sent to the developers of the game. The same with the script – we received their comments on each version of the script. It seemed that everyone was satisfied with the final result. Each of them. And despite this film was never shot. This is the whole tragedy.
Scott Kinny
Further, according to the plot, Jensen wakes up in the hospital. In the script of the film, he was not augmented against his will – he is still a person. Jensen Zol due to the loss Megan, whom he considers dead. He recalls their conversation about the augmentations, as well as how Barrett mocked him. After that, he asks David Sharif to provide him with Typhoon technology so that he can take revenge. He literally asks about this, although in the game he is Never asked for this.
Int. Technical center Sharif – time is unknown
Jensen lies with his eyes closed. The sheet covers his body. It looks quite normal, with the exception of two metal crescents on the sides of the eyes and a small hexagon cut on the left side of his forehead.
Jensen abruptly opens his eyes. He quickly sits down, bewildered and disoriented. When he does this, the sheet subsides, exposing his legs and torso. He looks like a person, and even more. His chest and hands are covered with titanium plates. Hands are completely cybernetic, Black and shiny, like his wrists.
He looks around, and during this it overloads his sensors – the colors are too bright, and the sounds are too loud. Sensations are as if his mind had turned into an echo-camera.
Cybernetically improved Jensen’s perception:
He is in a large and lifeless laboratory filled with medical machines. Megan necklace lies on a small table, and everything around him is in ultra -high resolution. He blinks, and a tactical grid appears in his eyes. Microprocessors record everything that he sees, and each item surrounding it is identified as a possible weapon and/or threat. All this happens in the blink of an eye.
Jensen rises abruptly. He is naked. At the back, we see that its spine was replaced by a rally frame, which is attached to all four limbs, and that the lower half of each leg was replaced by cybernetics.
Soon after, Jensen escapes the hospital and goes to the world, which now sees improved eyes. He returns to the park from the initial scene and conducts another training cycle that imitates it from the beginning of the film and showing how much it developed.
Further, the script describes the sequence of events in the style of Jason Bourne, where augmentation collectors attack the protagonist:
The world through the eyes of Jensen:
Bandit No. 2 waves a crowbar at Jensen’s head. Jensen easily intercepts the scrap with his left hand and hit the bandit right into the solar plexus. The bones of the attacker break, and his body is thrown back ..
Jensen sensors are loaded when the bandits move quickly. Then it suddenly seems that the world slows down. Bandit No. 2 in the air. The girl screams. Bandit No. 3 takes out a knife. Bandit No. 1 extends a hand with a stamps to Jensen’s chest. On top of all this, lines and numbers showing the angle of attack, strength, potential damage, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the attackers are imposed on. All this is for a fraction of a second.
In real time: Jensen turns around, grabs bandit No. 1 by the hand and twists it in the opposite direction. Bandit No. 1 screams when his bones break. Bandit No. 3 beats in convulsions when Jensen pierces the stun gun in his chest. Both fall to the ground.
Jensen looks at the broken bodies. He figured out three bandits in three seconds.
Many scenes for the film were written from scratch, although in the script there are also small references to the source material. For example, there is a description of the scene in which Jensen sits without a T -shirt and drinks whiskey.
In the film, the owner of the hive night club Tong Si Hung was to play a much more important role than in the game. Jensen deceives him to get some information, and ultimately receives a blow to his arrogance. After a car chase at high speed, Jensen fuels up the tonsion to come to the final battle, where he again uses it, this time to divert attention.
The rest of the story is closely related to the game. It turns out that the news reporter is a propaganda machine with artificial intelligence, the secrets of the ball are revealed and the Daedalus is triggered, as a result of which the Augmentated loses their minds. Jensen steamed madness with Megan. And Jensen had a chance to experience the Typhoon:
Jensen falls on one knee and bends his hands on both sides of him. Small holes appear along his hands and the “typhoon” begins to act.
A shock wave from his hands launches small explosive devices 360 degrees.
They fly over the heads of the hostages, ricochece and tear the mercenaries into Kolchya. The remaining charges dig into the walls, making huge holes in them.
Jensen looks reverently at the consequences – he had no idea how powerful he was "Typhoon". Hostages look at him with lifted mouths.
There is also one rather ridiculous moment in the script, simply inserted for the sake of sending:
Int. Pictus building
Megan hears Jensen’s voice through the headphone. Her gaze stops on a flickering code when Elena is approaching.
Megan:
(Jensen)
“Get up!"
Jensen:
(through communication)
“I can’t. Systems fail."
Megan:
“You’re not a car!"
Int. Studio – Pictus building
Jensen looks at Barrett, who inserts a clip into his minigan.
Megan:
(through communication)
“You are a man!"
After these words, Jensen fills peace with the liberating realization that he begins to understand the truth.
Jensen:
(to yourself)
"… Get up, Adam."
Barrett:
(directing the weapon to it)
“So?!"
Jensen:
"… I’m not like you, Barrett."
Barrett:
“You are a fucking Aug!"
Jensen:
“This is so. But…"
Barrett:
“But what?!"
Jensen begins to run towards Barrett.
Barrett presses the trigger. When Jensen jumps, the blade leaves his right hand and cuts off Barrett’s hand. Barrett screams when a hand with a weapon falls to the ground. With the other hand he swings at Jensen. Jensen rolls, grabs a hand with a minigan and aiming her in Barrett ..
Jensen:
I NEVER ASKED FOR THIS!
And Jensen shoots!
Shells fall into the head of Barrett and he falls dead.
Given the general mood of the script, this scene looks too comical, and the phrase meaningless in the context of the film “I NEVER ASKED for this ", After all, here Jensen literally asked for augmentations.
But even with this scene, the script still had potential. Of course, some of this is a bit of cliches, and it is a pity that at that time it was not planned to assign an adult age rating, but nevertheless, the Deus Ex world is ideal for film adaptation. What is the only -highly visual style with the gradations of black and gold.
One way or another, this project is no longer destined to come true, but who knows, maybe in the future we will see some kind of film project for this universe? As for the video game, now the rights to Deus Ex are owned by Embracer Group, like the Eidos Montréal Studio itself. If you believe last year’s information from journalist Jason Schraier, Eidos has already begun to create a new game in the universe, which is currently in the early stages of development.
