Ancient Mesopotamian hero Gilgamesh will make his screen debut when Fortnite developer and publisher Epic Games creates an animated version of the mythological demigod for its first film production ever.
According to Deadline, Epic Games is teaming up with Latin American animation studio Hook Up and Argentinian companies DuermeVela and FilmSharks on the project through its Epic MegaGrants program, which is providing a grant of $100 million.
The animated film, which will be released in both English and Spanish, will follow the adventures of Gilgamesh as he goes on a quest for immortality and explores his friendship with his wartime comrade Enkidu, who is said to be part man, part bull.
Gilgamesh is the protagonist of the epic Mesopotamian poem “Epic of Gilgamesh.” Historians agree that the “Epic of Gilgamesh” was a major influence on the ancient Greek epic poems, “Iliad” and “Odyssey.”
Argentinian filmmaker Tomas Lipgot (The Adopters) will direct the film and use Epic’s Unreal Engine technology to give the animated picture a photorealistic look. Other projects that have used the tech are The Mandalorian and Westworld. Epic Games also uses the technology on Fortnite.
“Although animation has done an excellent job of entertaining through comedy and colorful creatures, there is also a huge appetite and opportunity to share cultural stories and tell larger-than-life mythical tales,” FilmSharks CEO Guido Rud told Deadline.
So, which of Gilgamesh’s exploits will the upcoming animated film focus on? Let’s hope the movie includes his run-in with the Scorpion Man, his trip to the Underworld and his victory over a giant, lion-faced monster known as Huwawa.
