Warcraft 2016

As the very fabric of Draenor teeters on the precipice of destruction, the sinister orc warlock Gul’dan (Daniel Wu) forges a malevolent alliance between the disparate orc clans, birthing The Horde. Driven by an insatiable hunger for conquest and domination, Gul’dan orchestrates a dark and foreboding plan to guide The Horde into the unsuspecting realm of Azeroth. The warlock’s twisted machinations are fueled by the dark magic of fel, a power born from the very essence of death itself.

As the orcish horde converges, Garona (Paula Patton), a half-human, half-orc enigma, finds herself bound and helpless as Gul’dan’s malevolent plans unfold. The half-breed is forced to witness the brutal slaughter of Draenei prisoners, their life force drained by the warlock’s dark arts. Despite her own captivity, Garona is powerless to intervene as Gul’dan opens a portal to Azeroth, unleashing The Horde upon the unsuspecting world.

In the midst of this chaos, Durotan’s mate, Draka, conceals her pregnancy from the prying eyes of their fellow orcs. As she navigates the treacherous landscape of Azeroth, Draka’s body betrays her, and she gives birth to a stillborn orc boy. Gul’dan, ever the master manipulator, uses his dark magic to imbue the lifeless child with the essence of a nearby deer, presenting it to The Horde as a symbol of their dominance.

Meanwhile, in the heart of Ironforge, Commander Anduin Lothar (Travis Fimmel) receives a mysterious gift from King Magni Bronzebeard (Michael Adamthwaite), a boomstick that will prove crucial in the battles to come. Summoned by the king’s messenger, Lothar sets out for the kingdom of Stormwind, where he finds himself entangled in a web of intrigue and deception.

As Lothar delves deeper into the mysteries of Azeroth, he meets the enigmatic mage Khadgar (Ben Schnetzer), who is caught red-handed inspecting the gruesome remains of a fallen warrior. The unlikely duo discovers that their garrison has been attacked, and the true extent of the carnage is revealed. Among the lifeless bodies lies one unfortunate soul whose mouth is beset by an eerie green smoke, a grim harbinger of fel magic at work.

With this ominous discovery in mind, Lothar and Khadgar set out to meet with King Llane Wrynn (Dominic Cooper) of Stormwind, only to be sent on a perilous quest to the mystical realm of Karazhan, where they hope to find solace and guidance from the enigmatic Guardian Medivh (Ben Foster).

As Medivh, Lothar, and Khadgar venture into the foreboding forest to unravel the mysteries of fel magic, they unwittingly stumble upon a skirmish with a band of orcs. The green-skinned warriors unleash a torrent of attacks on the humans, but Lothar proves himself a formidable opponent, dispatching several foes with ease. Medivh, ever the powerful mage, intervenes by casting a spell that brutally slaughters the orcish horde, leaving only Durotan and Orgrim Doomhammer (Rob Kazinsky) unscathed. The pair, including the imposing Blackhand (Clancy Brown), seem immune to the mage’s magical wrath.

As the dust settles, Durotan rides into view on horseback, his gaze falling upon the captive Garona. With a swift swing of his axe, he frees her from her chains, only for Khadgar to promptly ensnare her once more with his magical restraints. Garona is then taken into custody by Lothar’s men and brought to Llane’s castle, where she finds herself in the care of Queen Taria (Ruth Negga). Despite initial reservations, Garona comes to appreciate the queen’s kindness and finds solace in her company.

Meanwhile, Blackhand faces ridicule from Gul’dan for his perceived weakness in abandoning his comrades and fleeing from the humans. Durotan intervenes, pointing out that Medivh was manipulating the fel magic against their people, rendering Gul’dan’s claims of sole control over the dark energy dubious at best. This revelation sparks a heated debate between Durotan and Orgrim, with the former advocating for the stoppage of Gul’dan’s destructive influence, while the latter prioritizes loyalty to their orcish kin.

As tensions simmer within the orcish camps, Garona is freed by Llane on condition that she remain loyal to Stormwind. With her newfound allegiance, she guides Llane, Lothar, and their forces toward a crucial meeting with the Frostwolf clan. Taria presents Garona with a small dagger, imbuing her with a sense of self-defense and agency in a world fraught with uncertainty.

As the fragile peace between orcs and humans teeters on the brink, a high-stakes summit unfolds to forge an unlikely alliance against the formidable Gul’dan. Durotan (voiced by none) steps forward to speak for the orcish delegation, with Garona serving as the bridge between Llane and Lothar’s human faction. However, their fragile truce is shattered when they are ambushed by a group of green-skinned orcs, loyal only to Gul’dan, accompanied by the ruthless Blackhand and his entourage. The ensuing battle rages on, with Durotan’s clan fighting alongside the humans against their orcish attackers.

Meanwhile, Medivh, the revered guardian-mage, intervenes by conjuring a mystical barrier between the warring parties. Unfortunately, this protective measure leaves Callan, Lothar’s loyal companion, stranded outside. As Lothar struggles to escape or pull his friend back, Blackhand seizes the opportunity to strike down Callan with his newly acquired claw-hand, flinging the lifeless body towards his father.

Medivh’s powers begin to wane as he is transported back to his home and submerged in his sacred mana pool. Khadgar, sensing something amiss, notices Medivh’s eyes glowing with an otherworldly green light, signaling his corruption by the fel magic. The young mage also discovers a cryptic clue hidden within a tome from Medivh’s library, hinting that Gul’dan may have had clandestine support in Azeroth to open the portal.

As Medivh teleports Garona back to Stormwind, Khadgar departs to seek guidance, while Lothar, wracked with grief over Callan’s demise, finds solace in his own despair. The once-trusted guardian-mage is now viewed with suspicion by Lothar.

In the depths of Gul’dan’s stronghold, Orgrim engages in a revealing conversation with the cunning sorcerer, who is well aware that Durotan has chosen to abandon The Horde. This betrayal prompts Blackhand to purge the Frostwolf clan, imprisoning Durotan while claiming the orcish leadership for himself. Gul’dan then extends an ominous offer to Orgrim: to partake in the dark fel magic and emerge stronger than ever.

Khadgar soars above the clouds on a majestic Gryphon, bound for the fabled city of Dalaran, where he reunites with fellow elder mages. However, his unexpected return sparks a mixture of disdain and disapproval among these respected colleagues. Khadgar is summoned to meet Alodi (Glenn Close), an enigmatic older guardian who has been watching him from the shadows. This cryptic figure, known only as Medivh’s confidant, reveals that the guardian-mage has been engaged in a desperate struggle against a demonic force and has since succumbed to its corrupting influence.

As Khadgar bears witness to these revelations, he is summoned to tend to the sacred pool where Medivh lies. The pool glows with an eerie green light as Moroes (Callum Keith Rennie) assists Medivh’s troubled descent into the depths of corruption. In a chilling display of depravity, Medivh absorbs the life force of his loyal servant and begins to transform into an orc-like creature, forever changed by the dark power of the fel.

As Llane convenes a crucial meeting to galvanize The Alliance against the impending threat of The Horde, Lothar expresses reservations about the plan, advocating instead for the destruction of the portal to prevent further orcish invasions of Azeroth. Medivh, in his human form, materializes at the gathering, his mention of Callan sparking animosity towards Lothar. Llane, sensing tension, orders Lothar’s confinement, a decision that would soon prove contentious.

Meanwhile, Orgrim, consumed by regret for his past mistakes, secretly frees Draka and their young son, Go’el, whom Durotan had named in honor of the orcish tradition. As Orgrim seeks to rectify his error by freeing Durotan himself, he is met with a mixture of anger and understanding from his friend.

The stage is set for battle as Llane leads his men into the fray. Khadgar’s timely return allows Lothar to escape confinement, courtesy of the wizard’s cunning manipulation of a guard. Khadgar then dedicates himself to unraveling the mysteries of Medivh’s magic, seeking a way to counter the sorcerer’s formidable abilities.

In a poignant and fateful sequence, Draka surrenders her life force as she sends Go’el floating away to safety on a river, only to be brutally attacked by another orc. As her vision fades, she exacts a gruesome revenge upon her attacker, ultimately succumbing to her mortal wounds.

The drama unfolds further as Durotan confronts Gul’dan in a duel that captivates the attention of The Horde. Initially appearing to hold the upper hand, Durotan is ultimately drained of his life force by Gul’dan’s dark magic, sparking outrage among the orcish ranks. The warlock’s subsequent murder of Durotan at the hands of the deserting green orcs prompts a sea change in their allegiance, with the remaining orcs coalescing behind Gul’dan.

As the invasion of Azeroth commences, Llane and his army (now bolstered by Garona) engage The Horde in fierce combat. Simultaneously, Lothar and Khadgar strive to vanquish Medivh, only to be confronted by a reanimated clay Golem summoned forth by the sorcerer. With a Herculean effort, Lothar manages to decapitate the monstrosity, yet its lifeless body remains conscious. Khadgar then intervenes, casting a spell that brings the Golem crashing down upon Medivh’s prone form, effectively petrifying him.

As Medivh succumbs to his mortal wounds, he utlizes his final moments to redirect the portal from Azeroth to Stormwind, inadvertently freeing some of the prisoners. Lothar, astride his majestic Gryphon, hurtles towards the fray as the battle rages on.

As Llane’s desperate plea for peace reaches a poignant climax, he beseeches Garona to end his life, reasoning that such an act would potentially usher in an era of harmony between the warring humans and orcs. This selfless gesture would also grant Garona the opportunity to reclaim her honor within The Horde. With evident reluctance, Garona ultimately complies with Llane’s request, plunging her dagger into his neck before Blackhand can exact his own cruel vengeance. The orcs erupt in triumphant cheers as Garona is borne away to be received by Gul’dan, who warmly welcomes her into the fold of The Horde. Meanwhile, Lothar arrives on the scene, only to find Llane’s lifeless body, with Garona’s dagger still lodged in his neck.

In a display of unyielding fury and retribution, Lothar engages Blackhand, now empowered by the dark energies of fel magic. With swift and decisive strikes, Lothar exacts a measure of justice for Callan’s untimely demise, impaling Blackhand with his sword. This bold action earns Lothar the begrudging respect of the orcs, but Gul’dan’s malevolent intentions remain unchanged – he seeks to eliminate the would-be leader of The Alliance. Garona intervenes, warning Gul’dan that further violence will only lead to a full-scale conflict with the other orcs, prompting him to stand down.

As Lothar takes Llane’s lifeless body away, he is left to ponder the treachery of Garona, whose dagger still clings to his friend’s neck. The weight of this deception settles upon Lothar like a shroud, fueling his determination to lead The Alliance in Llane’s stead.

In the aftermath of Llane’s funeral, a somber Taria eulogizes her fallen husband before the entire kingdom, setting the stage for Lothar’s ascension to leadership. As the people rally behind their new leader, the mantle of responsibility settles upon his shoulders.

The film concludes with Go’el still floating downriver, his fate uncertain. A gentle voice whispers words of wisdom, as Durotan prophesies that his son will rise to become the next leader of The Horde – a leader who may bring about a long-overdue era of peace among the orcs. As the camera lingers on Go’el’s basket, now being retrieved by a curious individual, the infant within lets out a fierce growl, foreshadowing the tumultuous journey that lies ahead.