The past decade is littered with lackluster game-to-film projects: Doom, Hitman, Alone in the Dark, Resident Evil: Apocalypse, and In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Adventure to name a few. So it was with no small amount of trepidation that fans of Max Payne greeted news that Remedy's classic shooter series was getting the Hollywood treatment.

　　Some fans' fears were assuaged when Oscar-nominated actor Mark Wahlberg was cast as the lead in the Max Payne film, which is currently shooting in Toronto. However, others were realized when first-time screenwriter Beau Thorne was hired to pen the script and less-than-acclaimed director John Moore (Behind Enemy Lines) was brought on board.

　　Today comes news that will receive a mixed reception by many cineastes. According to Entertainment Weekly, Chris O'Donnell has signed up for a major role in Max Payne. O'Donnell, who is most famous for his portrayal of faithful sidekick Robin in Batman Forever and Batman & Robin, hasn't had a major screen role since a spate of turn of the century box-office duds including The Vertical Limit and The Bachelor. (The author had the "pleasure" of reviewing both in a former career--ed.) Most recently, he costarred with Alfred Molina (Boogie Nights, Spider-Man 2) in the decently reviewed TNT original miniseries The Company.

　　According to EW, O'Donnell will play an "executive" named Jason Colvin in Max Payne. Though it is unclear what company the Colvin character will work for, it is worth noting the first Max Payne game concerned a multinational corporation bankrolling a murderous, mob-backed drug distribution ring.

　　Max Payne is currently scheduled to hit theaters in mid-October. It is unclear when--or even if--a third Max Payne game will be released.