Peter Jackson on the Halo film

By Tom Bramwell Published 6 December, 2005

He hopes it won't suck.

Peter Jackson's revealed his lofty ambition as executive producer of the new Halo film, which begins shooting next year. "Hopefully it won't suck," he told film site Dark Horizons during a recent New York interview.

Jackson, who recently finished work on his latest film, a remake of King Kong, said that he was attracted to the project because he's a fan of the game, although he admitted that videogame movies "suck" - hence the quote.

Asked why he didn't choose to direct, he responded: "I want a break. I want to have the fun but not the hard work. I just want to be part of the creative team but not actually have the pain."

At the time the interview was conducted, Jackson said there was no director attached. Since then of course there's been chatter about Guillermo Del Toro, although that's not been confirmed. However, Jackson did sort of admit that the script recently rated by a script-review website was genuine. "I'm pleased, yeah," he said when asked pointedly about the reaction to it. "You never know what to expect."

Earlier this year Microsoft distributed the film script to various Hollywood studios - well, technically a bloke dressed up as the Master Chief did - having reportedly paid Alex Garland $1 million to write it. Soon after, a deal was agreed between Universal and Fox to bring it to film screens in 2007.

Microsoft originally announced Jackson's attachment to the project, along with his partner Fran Walsh, during X05. Jackson's Weta Studio will also be involved, working on special effects.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (35) Latest comment 6 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Talha #1 6 years ago

    Hey, I think utilising the fathomless well of talent, not to mention the boundless wisdom of various such stellar ventures, of Mr Uwi Boll would be perfecly adequate for this auspicious undertaking.

  • Tiiti #2 6 years ago

    Uwi Boll FTW!

  • MrAtheist #3 6 years ago

    Trey Parker FTW

    Master Chief + Cartman voice = Box office gold!

  • lambtron #4 6 years ago

    Lol that would be an awesome film Atheist!

  • w00t #5 6 years ago

    Apparently, the script is here.

  • Talha #6 6 years ago

    @w00t: Amazing - and wait for the lawsuit from MS when they arrest you for disclosing the story!

  • Sko #7 6 years ago

    I'm not surprised he wants a break from directing - have you been watching those kongisking.net diaries? The pressure must be mad.

  • Tweakmonkey #8 6 years ago

    I suppose MS are gambling that success with the movie will equal more success with the game franchise, but I'm not really sure there's any connection between the two. Otherwise I can't see why they'd bother with this.

  • Tricky #9 6 years ago

    According to AICN, Guillermo Del Toro has been tapped to direct it, so it should be in safe hands there.

  • Spanky #10 6 years ago

    /wonders how long the film will be?
    /broke his arse at lotr
    /3 times!

  • Eldritch #11 6 years ago

    But is it going to be better than Halo?

  • kangarootoo #12 6 years ago

    "Anyone seen Jackson recently? There's a man on the slim-fast plan."

    With great riches comes great personal trainers (to paraphrase Spiderman).

  • Chtulie #13 6 years ago

    Looks like new zealand is the place to go for geek movie projects.
    (though the some of the design stuff they did on the possible live-action version of Neon Genesis Evengelion was... less then stellar, and thankfully that project never got beyond those design stages)

  • Gulag #14 6 years ago

    This is it, the pieces are falling into place. This will be the break-out film we all Know has to happen as the rest of the world starts to take gaming seriously. Can't wait for the pen & paper RPG.

  • tengu #15 6 years ago

    Video game movies lol.

  • absolutezero #16 6 years ago

    Hopefully the only del Toro has aligned himself with this is just to get Hellboy 2 made, much like what he did with Blade and the original Hellboy. Ill direct your turd if you let me make my film without interference.

  • 3william56 #17 6 years ago

    8/10

  • davyuk #18 6 years ago

    They should've got Rooster Teeth on the script team. It least it would turn out intentionally funny.

  • Xerx3s #19 6 years ago

    meh. Untill they prove me wrong, i think it will suck. Comman, its hollywood ffs!

  • alpha-0ne #20 6 years ago

    halo 2 made 100Milliom plus in a weeksnd no movie can do this, but put together the release of halo 3 on the 360 late 2006 early 2007 and then the movie to follow now that is one well od a lineup for MS to promote their console

  • myiagros #21 6 years ago

    are any Halo fans actually going to go and see this? it sounds like a cash in like most videogame movies.
    Now if it the movie was made using the Halo(1, 2 or even 3) game engine then i would be interested.

  • Dizzy #22 6 years ago

    >it sounds like a cash in like most videogame movies.

    Yeah.. LotR was a big cash in! Dude.. you could say that about *all* movies based on book/game/event.... At least looks like MS is really trying to make something out of it.

  • tengu #23 6 years ago

    I'm sure Paul Anderson and Uwe Boll tried to 'make something' of the game movies they were handed, but that didn't turn out well, did it?

  • Khab #24 6 years ago

    True, but you must admit that Jackson's LotR trilogy and del Toro's Hellboy doth not suck completely... in fact, I'd go as far as to state that they're rather good.

    Compare this to Anderson and Boll's previous engagements....

  • tengu #25 6 years ago

    Yeah, but that doesn't change the fact it's still a videogame movie. Look at the track record!

  • Freek #26 6 years ago

    Those movies diden't suck becuase they were based on videogames, they sucked becuase they were poorly made and helmed by less then stellar directors/writers.

  • kangarootoo #27 6 years ago

    Freek speaks the truth.

    I'll go see it if its good. If it sucks.... I will probably rent it, but that is me and films. I've even looked at HotD on the shelf of BlockBuster with a morbid curiosity.

    The Descent is excellent BTW. Anyone into that sort of thing (same chap who did Dog Soldiers) should rent it out.

  • SeesThroughAll #28 6 years ago

    "At least looks like MS is really trying to make something out of it."

    I disagree. MS are not trying to "make something out of it" any more than any other IP owners.

  • Talha #29 6 years ago

    "I hope it doesn't suck'

    That is a very humble, down-to-earth, informed, ironic, and funny-as-hell remark coming from a director like PJ, for which he should be applauded. I bet you never hear Uwe Boll say such things.

  • Genji #30 6 years ago

    Well, as an executive producer, his control over the film is limited. So all he can do is hope, really. If he was DIRECTING the film, that comment would be a bit more interesting.

  • Talha #31 6 years ago

    Still it is PJ we are talking about. it is almost a foregone conclusion that since he is lending his name to the project, he would have a lot more control over it than is strictly dictated by the role of executive producer. In fact many 'roles' for any hollywood project are up for grabs - it is usually decided mutually that what designation any person attached to a movie will get in the credits. Given his record, the remark is laudable.

    Let's just hope it will be directed by Uwe Boll - let's see what PJ manages to do with it!!!

  • kangarootoo #32 6 years ago

    "Well, as an executive producer, his control over the film is limited"

    That is such a wooly title though and its exact meaning varies between projects, it could mean that he is simply an investor, it could mean he can vito any part of the production.

    For example, I doubt he will be telling the director which way to point the camera, but I bet he could vito a scene and ask for it to be reshot if he felt strongly about it.

    EDIT: Ah, what Talha said pretty much. I should really read ahead more before posting :)
    Edited by 1 at 07/12/05 @ 11:04

  • The-Bodybuilder #33 6 years ago

    I wish James Cameron would direct......

  • Talha #34 6 years ago

    kangarootoo: No mate that's not enough. Remove your comment at once or I am suing you for copyright infringement.

    In a New York court.

    Take your pick.

  • Talha #35 6 years ago

    @Owen-B : Hey man, I think they should have a dictionary for these silly abbreviations perpetrated by posters with lazy fingers, FFS!! (LMAAORFL)

    Oops, sorry. I think it means 'for the win' or something. That's the only one I know.