Directed by Duncan Jones, The 2016 Warcraft movie generated high anticipation. For fans of World of Warcraft (WoW), there was a lot of curiosity about the Warcraft movie’s lore accuracy. However, it’s important to note that the movie primarily draws from the original Warcraft: Orcs & Humans. In this article, we’ll explore how closely the Warcraft movie adheres to the established lore of the Warcraft universe.

Understanding the Source Material: Warcraft: Orcs & Humans

To properly assess the accuracy of the Warcraft movie’s lore, it’s essential to understand the timeline. This game marks the beginning of the Warcraft universe, focusing on the first war.

World of Warcraft, an MMORPG released in 2004, builds on the lore established in previous Warcraft games. However, when it comes to the Warcraft movie’s lore accuracy, the film focuses on the events of the first war.

Points of Alignment: What the Movie Got Right

The Dark Portal and the Orc Invasion

One of the central plot points of the Warcraft movie is the opening of the Dark Portal. This event, taken directly from Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, catalyzes the conflict between humans and orcs. The depiction of the Dark Portal in the movie is fairly accurate.

Key Characters

The movie features several key characters from Warcraft lore, including:

• Anduin Lothar: Known as the Lion of Azeroth, Lothar is a central figure in the defense of the Kingdom of Azeroth. The movie portrays him as a seasoned warrior and a key leader, which aligns with his portrayal in the lore.

• Medivh: The Last Guardian of Tirisfal, Medivh is a pivotal character. The movie accurately portrays him as a conflicted character, struggling with the demonic influence of Sargeras.

• Gul’dan: The orcish warlock who orchestrates the orc invasion by opening the Dark Portal. The movie’s portrayal of Gul’dan as a power-hungry, malevolent figure is consistent with the lore.

• Durotan: Durotan, the chieftain of the Frostwolf clan and father of Thrall appears as a leader who only wants whats best for his people. This aligns well with his depiction in the lore.

The Destruction of Stormwind

The fall of Stormwind, the capital city of the Kingdom of Azeroth, is a key event in the lore. The movie culminates with the orcish Horde laying siege to Stormwind, leading to its eventual destruction. While the movie doesn’t fully depict the aftermath, the siege itself is consistent with the game’s storyline.

Points of Divergence: Where the Movie Deviates from the Lore

Character Relationships and Motivations

While the movie gets the broad strokes of the lore right, it takes several liberties with the relationships or key characters:

• Garona Halforcen: In the lore, Garona, a half-orc, half-draenei assassin, is manipulated by Gul’dan into assassinating King Llane Wrynn. The movie portrays her as a more sympathetic character with a closer relationship to both Llane and Anduin Lothar.

• Llane Wrynn’s Death: In the lore, Garona kills King Llane under the influence of Gul’dan. The movie portrays this event as a more emotional and personal act, with Llane effectively asking Garona to kill him.

• Medivh’s Corruption: In the movie, Medivh’s descent into madness and corruption by the demon Sargeras is hinted at. The lore delves deeper into his internal struggle and the influence of Sargeras.

Timeline Compression and Character Roles

The movie compresses the timeline of events and alters the roles of some characters to fit its narrative:

• Orgrim Doomhammer: In the lore, Orgrim Doomhammer plays a significant role in the second war. In the movie, his role is somewhat diminished, and he is portrayed more as Durotan’s close friend and ally.

• The Role of the Alliance: The Warcraft movie primarily focuses on the Kingdom of Azeroth (Stormwind) and its conflict with the orcs. In the broader lore, the formation of the Alliance of Lordaeron, which includes multiple human kingdoms and other races like the dwarves and high elves, is a crucial development. The movie does not address the Alliance in its full scope, likely due to the need to simplify the story for a cinematic audience.

Visual and Design Differences

The visual representation of certain elements in the movie also deviates from the established game lore:

• Orcish Appearance: The movie depicts orcs with impressive CGI, but their physical appearance is slightly exaggerated compared to their in-game counterparts. The film shows them as much larger and more brutish, likely for dramatic effect, which differs from their portrayal in the games.

• Magic and Fel Corruption: The depiction of magic, particularly fel magic, is visually striking in the movie. However, the extent and impact of fel corruption are somewhat simplified for the film, with less emphasis on its broader consequences as seen in the games.

Missing Elements: What the Movie Didn’t Include

Given the expansive lore of the Warcraft universe, it’s impossible for a single movie to cover everything. The film omitted or underexplored some elements from the lore.

• The Draenei: The Draenei, the original inhabitants of Draenor, are a significant part of the Warcraft lore. Their history and conflict with the orcs play a crucial role in understanding the orcish invasion of Azeroth, but the movie barely mentions them

• The Broader Context of Azeroth: The movie focuses primarily on the events surrounding the Kingdom of Azeroth (Stormwind) and the orcs. Other significant regions, races, and events in Azeroth’s history are not addressed, leaving out the broader geopolitical context of the Warcraft universe.

• The Burning Legion: While the demonic influence of the Burning Legion is hinted at through Medivh’s corruption, the movie does not fully explore the Legion’s role as the ultimate antagonist in the Warcraft universe. In the lore, the Burning Legion’s influence is a major driving force behind many of the conflicts in Azeroth.

Conclusion

The Warcraft movie does follow the basic lore established in Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, especially in its depiction of key events like the opening of the Dark Portal and the invasion of Azeroth by the orcish Horde. It captures the essence of the conflict between humans and orcs, as well as the internal struggles of characters like Medivh and Durotan.

However, the movie also takes several liberties with the relationships and motivations of characters, compresses the timeline, and alters or omits certain aspects of the broader lore to fit its cinematic narrative. While it provides a visually impressive and engaging introduction to the Warcraft universe for new audiences, longtime fans may notice the differences and simplifications made for the sake of the film.

Ultimately, the Warcraft movie serves as a gateway into the rich and detailed lore of the Warcraft universe, but it is not a comprehensive or entirely accurate retelling of the events from the games. Fans seeking a deeper understanding of the Warcraft story should explore the original games and expanded lore to fully appreciate the complexity and depth of this beloved franchise.