It's been a game-to-movie project that, quite frankly, we thought was in the typical "turnaround hell" state but word from Variety and Aint It Cool News is that Sam Raimi has been signed to direct the film adaptation of World of Warcraft. Yep, the man behind the Evil Dead and Spider-Man films is going to take on the task of bringing Blizzard's MMO world to celluloid life.

Legendary Pictures, who bought the movie rights to the game a few years ago, is still co-funding this venture with Warner Bros. According to Variety's article Raimi will make World of Warcraft his next picture after he finishes work on Spider-Man 4 which he is scheduled to direct in 2010. That most likely means that the World of Warcraft movie won't start filming until 2011 at the earliest.

This announcement was certainly timed to be made around this week's San Diego Comic-Con and we wouldn't be surprised if more info about this move was revealed at Blizzard's own World of Warcraft panel to be held on Thursday (maybe with a Raimi guest appearance?).

Update: Blizzard has now issued an official press release on Raimi's move to direct the movie. Raimi is quoted in the press release as saying, "At its core, Warcraft is a fantastic, action-packed story. I am thrilled to work with such a dynamite production team to bring this project to the big screen."

[Via Wow.com]