Monster Hunter: Get Your First Look At The Video Game Movie Starring Milla Jovovich

Milla's about to meet some mega-monsters. 

Screen Gems has unveiled the first official photo from Monster Hunter, the Milla Jovovich-led film adaptation of Capcom's fantasy-heavy action role-playing game franchise of the same name.

Released exclusively to IGN on Tuesday, November 20, the snap features lead actress Jovovich as Natalie Artemis, running alongside Tony Jaa as a character known simply as "the Hunter." The shot was captured in the Atlantis Dunes in South Africa, a location meant to emulate Monster Hunter's Wildspire Waste.

Artemis, a military lieutenant and an original character made for the films who hasn't been seen in the game series, is decked out in armored boots and gauntlets made of a similar material, a swirled chest plate, and shoulder pauldrons. Per IGN's breakdown of her equipment, Artemis wields "a pair of unidentified Dual Blades on her back, a carving knife on her thigh, and a Slinger on her left arm."

As for Hunter, his attire is lined with golden fur and his weapons are hulking compared to what Artemis carries. Hunter — who's said to be modeled in the vein of the non-playable character Field Team Leader from Monster Hunter: World, one of the best games of 2018 — is shown holding a Giant Jawblade on his back and a Great Hunter's Bow in his left hand. In the Monster Hunter lore, Field Team Leaders are tasked with "assisting newly arrived Hunter Teams as they deploy onto the field, under the direct supervision of the Commander" — and that's exactly what Jaa's Hunter will do in the Monster Hunter movie. 

Alongside this first-look photo, Screen Gems released the official synopsis for the film, written and directed by Resident Evil filmmaker Paul W.S. Anderson. 

"Behind our world, there is another: a world of dangerous and powerful monsters that rule their domain with deadly ferocity. When Lt. Artemis (Milla Jovovich) and her loyal soldiers are transported from our world to the new world, the unflappable lieutenant receives the shock of her life," the synopsis reads. "In her desperate battle for survival against enormous enemies with incredible powers and unstoppable, revolting attacks, Artemis will team up with a mysterious man who has found a way to fight back."

Clearly, Hunter is this so-described "mysterious man" and will partner with Artemis to get her and her troops on the field and into the heart of the action. 

According to Anderson, who describes himself as a "long-term fan of the game," Monster Hunter will blend new elements (like Jovovich's character) with those pulled directly from the video game franchise, which began back in 2004 with the release of the original Monster Hunter for the PlayStation 2. This inspiration includes Artemis' costume, part of which was modeled after the Odogaron chest piece featured in Monster Hunter: World, as well as the film's landscapes. 

"The beauty of the costumes and the landscapes from the Monster Hunter game really kind of came out in that image," Anderson said of the newly released photo, adding that Jovovich's character represents "the game player," "the audience's avatar, their way into the world."

Anderson also detailed that Monster Hunter will take viewers across many beautiful lands, all varied in topography — from "rocky landscapes" to "terrifying caves" and everything in between. 

"There's a more lush part of the movie, which kind of reflects the kind of lush, more jungle-y look of the Monster Hunter world. And then the climax of the movie takes place around a piece of the Ancient Civilization that's ... kind of referenced many times in the Monster Hunter games," he stated, further revealing that sets of ruins provide "a big backdrop for the final act" of Monster Hunter. 

Though the film won't give viewers the same quantity of landscapes they'd encounter while spending hours upon hours playing Monster Hunter: World, Anderson noted that it will take audiences on an "amazing journey with amazing visuals."

Anderson is clearly confident about every aspect of the Monster Hunter movie — as he should be, since he's the guy who wrote and directed the dang thing — but not every fan has shared his excitement. Some are convinced that the film is going to be terrible, and others have expressed concern that real-life husband and wife Jovovich and Anderson will do to Monster Hunter what they did to the Resident Evil series: take entertaining games and turn them into pretty awful movies. 

Those who are wary of the upcoming film aren't without reason, as it's evident that the movie will deviate from the video game source material quite a bit. Exactly how much the movie will separate itself from the established lore remains to be seen, but Capcom apparently isn't too worried about the creative liberties Anderson will take with the film adaptation. If the studio was, they wouldn't have handed him the rights to the property. That may not be enough to calm the frayed nerves of some fans, but hey, at least it's something to help them sleep at night until they see more sneak peeks of the film. 

Also starring Diego Boneta, Meagan Good, Clifford "T.I." Harris, Jr., and Ron Perlman, Monster Hunter is expected to open in theaters sometime in 2020.

Coco Van Oppens/Constantin Film