A scripted film adaptation of Norwegian gamer Mats 'Ibelin' Steen's life has lined up an impressive cast including Anthony Hopkins and Toni Collette. The movie, titled Ibelin, is directed by Morten Tyldum and based on Steen's blog writings. It follows the story of the World of Warcraft player who found community amid his battle with muscular dystrophy.
Cast and Crew
The film Ibelin features a notable ensemble cast: Charlie Plummer, Anthony Hopkins, Toni Collette, Stephen Graham, Isabela Merced, and Maisy Stella. Morten Tyldum, known for directing The Imitation Game, will helm the project. The screenplay is penned by Ilaria Bernardini and Hossein Amini, drawing from Steen's personal blog, Musings of Life.
Background on Mats Steen
Mats Steen, who passed away in 2014 at age 25, lived with a rare form of muscular dystrophy that progressively limited his physical abilities. Despite losing control of his limbs, he built a vibrant online presence in World of Warcraft under the name Ibelin. There, he formed deep friendships and was admired by thousands for his humor, kindness, and courage, which gave him purpose and community.
This story gained wider attention through Netflix's 2024 documentary, The Remarkable Life of Ibelin. As a tribute, Blizzard Entertainment incorporated Steen's character, Lord Ibelin, as a non-player character (NPC) in World of Warcraft earlier this year.
Production Details
Vendôme Pictures and Pathé are producing the film, which currently lacks an American distributor. Distribution rights are expected to be shopped at the upcoming American Film Market. No release date has been announced.