HALO movie still being made?

[Dream]

Early last month, we mentioned that Microsoft was still interested in making a Halo movie. That was before "Halo Reach" was released in stores on September 14 to the tune of $200 million in sales its first day.

Now comes word from Vulture that DreamWorks Pictures is looking to do what Universal Pictures and 20th Century Fox couldn't - to adapt the popular video game franchise for the big screen.

Stuart Beattie previously wrote a script based on the novel "Halo: The Fall of Reach" which was sent to Microsoft. He tells the site that his "long-term goal is to get three Halo movies [based on the three novelizations] made. It's not something I can accomplish tomorrow. But if I can help, I am glad to do it."

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=70408

Looks like the project isn't completely dead after all. I hope they actually do this! I love the games.

[PsychoPere]

That's not surprising. I'm pretty sure Frank O'Connor (of Microsoft's 343 Industries, in charge of the Halo franchise for those not familiar with the name) stated sometime in the past year that a film was still a possibility. If it does move forward, I hope Microsoft and 343 retain almost full creative control over the script the way Microsoft and Bungie wanted with the Universal/Fox-backed adaptation. And of course they have to find a director, since Blomkamp has stated he won't come back...

[Timby]

I doubt any movie will happen unless Microsoft agrees to put forth some of the production costs (and given that the H&E Devices division has only just recently begun to go into the black, I wouldn't think it likely that Microsoft will greenlight an expenditure along those lines).

Remember, the reason the Halo movie finally got torpedoed wasn't because of Microsoft's insistence over creative control, but because Fox and Microsoft were insisting that Universal front all of the pre-production and production fees (Fox would provide the studio capacity), while all three would participate in the revenue. Basically, Universal was faced with the prospect of taking on all the risk and then splitting a three-way pie -- a pie with a somewhat questionable chance of being big, given the history of video game adaptations -- and the studio said, "Oh, fuck no."

[Admiral_Young]

Alex Garland also wrote a pretty incredible script. It's still in development hell, probably won't see any real development from it for another few years unless something drastic happens. I believe that Peter Jackson is still an executive producer on the project unless his contract expired. Neill Blomkamp stated that he still has an interest in directing a "Halo" film.

[firehawk12]

That's what I don't understand. MS wants someone to spend hundreds of millions of dollars but they're not willing to put in their own money? I don't see why anyone would want to take all the risk without any of the benefit of merchandising or any other ancillary profits.

[Python Trek]

If Halo gets made, then Ringworld will either never get made, or youngsters will accuse it of being a "rip-off" of that which came decades later, just like the Fantastic Four/Incredibles situation.

[Deckerd]

But Fantastic Four and Incredibles were both made.

[Psion]

Naaaahhh. While they might engage in such hi-jinx on the playground, Python Trek, any kid who attempted that in any online community at all will find himself quickly corrected by better-informed peers.

Personally, I'd love to see both movies. And sequels. And TV shows. And porn parodies. Oh yeah ... the porn parodies! Bow-wow-chik-a-chik-a!

[Deckerd]

I can't really see a porn parody of the Incredibles.

[Dac]

Aside from sharing a ring "world" in the story, and possibly the theme about aliens worshiping the creators of the ring, I can't see any other similarities between Halo and Ringworld.

[MilleniumLance]

Cruella wrote:

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I can't really see a porn parody of the Incredibles.

i could but im just sick like that

[PsychoPere]

Admiral_Young wrote:

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Neill Blomkamp stated that he still has an interest in directing a "Halo" film.

Do you recall when he stated that? Last year, he didn't seem interested in returning if Halo were offered to him again.

[SPCTRE]

Well I'm certainly crossing my fingers.

Until then, I'm going to have to watch Halo Landfall over and over again.

[-Brett-]

Surely this renewed talk of a Halo movie has nothing to do with a recent major release in the series?

My prediction: Once the "new car smell" wears off of Reach, everyone will forget all about Halo. Again.

[Python Trek]

Cruella wrote:

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But Fantastic Four and Incredibles were both made.

Please note the "either"/"or" in my post. Thanks!