Hollywood Heavyweights Join ‘Ibelin’: A True Story of Life, Love, and World of Warcraft

A star-studded cast including Sir Anthony Hopkins, Toni Collette, and Stephen Graham has signed on to the film “Ibelin,” a narrative feature based on the inspiring true story of Norwegian gamer Mats Steen and his rich, hidden life within the online world of World of Warcraft.

The Story: Life in Azeroth

“Ibelin” dramatizes the life of Mats Steen, a young man who lived with a degenerative muscular disease. While his family feared he was withdrawing from the world due to his condition, Mats was, in fact, creating a profound, vibrant existence online. Under the character name Ibelin—a virtual alter ego admired for his humor, kindness, and courage—Mats found connection and community in the massive multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) World of Warcraft.

The film is adapted from the real Mats Steen’s blog, “Musings of Life,” and will explore two parallel worlds:

Mats’ Family Life: The narrative will depict his “loving, funny, slightly chaotic family” who only fully discovered the depth and breadth of his virtual connections after his death.

The WoW Community: The story will celebrate the thousands of fellow gamers who became admirers and friends of Ibelin, demonstrating the profound power of friendship forged across digital lines.

The Talent Behind the Project

The film boasts an impressive creative team and ensemble cast:

Director: Morten Tyldum, the Oscar-nominated director of The Imitation Game, is helming the project.

Screenplay: Written by BAFTA nominee Ilaria Bernardini (Citadel: Diana) and Oscar-nominated screenwriter Hossein Amini (The Wings of the Dove).

Lead Cast:

Charlie Plummer (The Long Walk) is set to star, likely as Mats Steen/Ibelin.

Stephen Graham (The Irishman, Adolescence) and Toni Collette (Hereditary, The Sixth Sense) are joining the cast, likely as key family members or figures in Mats’ life.

Two-time Oscar winner Sir Anthony Hopkins (The Silence of the Lambs, The Father) is also attached in an undisclosed role.

The cast is rounded out by Isabela Merced and Maisy Stella.

Producers: The film is being produced by Vendôme Pictures and Pathé, reuniting the banners that previously collaborated on the Best Picture Oscar-winner CODA.

Building on a Documentary Foundation

The story of Mats Steen has already gained acclaim. “Ibelin” is a scripted dramatization following the success of the 2024 Peabody Award and Emmy-nominated documentary, “The Remarkable Life of Ibelin,” which was acquired by Netflix. The feature film aims to build on that foundation by providing an emotional and cinematic exploration of the life that was quietly redefined inside the fantasy realm of Azeroth.

Principal photography is slated to begin in Europe in 2026.