Weta Workshop sees demand jump for Warcraft collectibles after Duncan Jones movie

The Warcraft movie has exploded onto the big screen and Weta workshop is set to cash in on the hype.

The Wellington-based business produced about 700 individual costume pieces for the movie, and consumer products team are making replicas of movie props for collectors.

Warcraft's fan base had pre-ordered many collectibles and Weta expected the movie release would further boost its collectible business.

Weta Workshop head of communications Erik Hay said the 1:1 prop replica Warcraft swords had been a hot item in the lead up to the release of the film.

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"We knew the Warcraft collectibles range was going to be big for us, but demand has exceeded all expectations. At launch, sales figures eclipsed those for our always very popular Middle-earth range."

As more people saw their work on the big screen, order numbers were accelerating, particularly from China, where box office sales now exceed $144,000,000, he said.

The Duncan Jones-directed fantasy epic from Legendary Pictures is based on Blizzard's popular game franchise.

It combines digital effects with an army of physical props, armour and weaponry.

Weta Workshop manufactured 90 suits of armour and more than 600 weapons to kit out the arsenals of Warcraft's human stars such as Dominic Cooper.

Weta Workshop co-founder Richard Taylor said it was always fun to be immersed in fantasy worlds, but this time the workshop had a fantastic opportunity to step into a computer game world.

"I'm tremendously proud of what our manufacturing teams have been able to accomplish for Warcraft."

Although the workshop was experienced at working on fantasy blockbusters such as The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia and Avatar, creating a fully realised computer game universe was a new challenge.

Workshop supervisor Rob Gillies led the crew through a labour-intensive project that saw staff convert Warcraft's computer game proportions, into functional, wearable elements.

Through a process of creating prototypes and movement studies using body doubles, the Workshop achieved a wearable finish.

Beginning as prototypes, made from semi-rigid foam, the final components were 3D printed and cast in urethane ready to do battle on-set in Burnaby, British Columbia.

Using milling machines designed by Workshop engineer Jordan Thomson, resident swordsmith Peter Lyon created a series of intricate aluminium "hero" swords for the lead actors.

Hundreds of stunt and background weapons were made from foam and rubber, which were indistinguishable from the steel and bronze counterparts.