MS' Halo film demands

By Games Industry.biz Published 8 June, 2005

Wants big commitment.

Plans for a high-budget Halo movie are being pushed ahead by Microsoft, which delivered copies of the Alex Garland-penned script to Hollywood studios earlier this week - with a high price tag and tough conditions attached.

Messengers dressed as the Xbox series' iconic hero, the Master Chief, arrived at the offices of many major studios on Monday to hand in copies of the script, for which Garland - the British author of The Beach and 28 Days Later - was paid $1 million.

Microsoft is keen to get work started on the film as soon as possible, according to a report in Hollywood publication Variety, which claims that the software giant wanted responses from studios as soon as late on Monday, with a view to starting production by January.

That indicates that the company could be planning a 2006 launch for the movie - the same timeframe as Halo 3 on the Xbox 360, which will arrive at around the same time as the launch of the PlayStation 3 according to Microsoft chairman Bill Gates.

However, a number of major studios have reportedly already bowed out of the running for the movie despite the incredible buzz surrounding the franchise, with Microsoft's terms and conditions being seen as incredibly tough to meet.

According to Variety, Microsoft's demands include $10 million advance against 15 per cent of the movie's gross takings, while other reports suggest that the company is also insisting on a $75 million below the line budget commitment - a sum which doesn't include major expenses such as the amount that would be paid to the actors and director hired for the project.

Microsoft - or, more specifically, subsidiary Bungie Studios - would also retain a massive degree of creative control over the project, with the winning studio forced to work to a strict "bible" to ensure that the movie doesn't conflict with anything in the complex universe set up by the previous Halo games and books, or anything planned for future games.

These conditions have already led to New Line and DreamWorks passing on the project, according to Variety's sources, while the Sony Pictures group (including labels such as Columbia and MGM) has been excluded for the bidding due to the rivalry between Microsoft and Sony in the videogames space.

However, a number of other studios remain in the running - with Variety reporting that several companies are "potentially interested" in bidding for Halo. The fact that the game series has sold around 13 million units worldwide since its debut four years ago is almost certainly an attractive carrot, after all.

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Comments (35) Latest comment 7 years ago

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

  • Teeth #1 7 years ago

    It just hasn't got the charm to be a good movie.

  • tpfkanep #2 7 years ago

    Run, Run, Run, Shoot, Open Door, Shoot, shoot, shoot. "I love you. They will not kill our kids. Our world" Run, run, shoot, open door...

    Fade to black.

    End Credits.

  • ShoKay #3 7 years ago

    I love Halo, but really, you need characters to make a decent movie, I don't think an all-out-SFX soulless starship-troopers clone is going to wow anyone.

  • Mirkan #4 7 years ago

    Read the books, there's plenty of material. Halo's story actually reaches far beyond the seemingly linear events in the games.

    It's nice to see that MS are making sure the film is taken seriously. More game companies should.

  • Derblington #5 7 years ago

    I think with the right people this could be good. Look at Terminator - the T-800 is a fairly lifeless character with very little expression, but it works really well. It would need a very good script, actors and director but there's potential.

  • Floppy #6 7 years ago

    I wonder if the chaps who did the Red vs Blue storylines will have any input.

  • freedumb #7 7 years ago

    Mirkan, you're right. The books have enough story that streches beyond the games (although even I enjoyed the game stories). But I still can't see how it'll make a good movie.

  • asphaltcowboy #8 7 years ago

    Well I trust Alex Garland... it's Hollywood I have the problem with...

  • TR421 #9 7 years ago

    I think that MS is just going to piss off the studios with their heavy handedness.
    Halo may have a huge following for a videogame but it's still pretty small compared to major films.
    They'd have more luck if they offered to provide some of the funding.

  • Batfink #10 7 years ago

    I hope the Red vs. Blue people stay a million miles away from this. Cos RvB is a bag of shite.

  • NAC #11 7 years ago

    Get Ridley Scott to direct, Greggson Williams to compose, and model it on Black Hawk Down, ie 2 hours of constant combat. Combined with the good story from the books. That would be interesting.

  • Sko #12 7 years ago

    Will the second half of the film just be the first half played in reverse?

  • daveo #13 7 years ago

    Wonder if it'll get more than 8 out of 10?

  • rocketScience #14 7 years ago

    I hope they sign Brett Ratner to direct so they can pull that hack off X-Men 3.

  • PearOfAnguish #15 7 years ago

    They can save money by using the same sets over and over again. It'll be just like the game!
    Edited by 1 at 08/06/05 @ 13:59

  • Syrette #16 7 years ago

    you serious Batfink?

  • The-Bodybuilder #17 7 years ago

    I wonder how it will end?

  • smelliot #18 7 years ago

    I think making sure it sticks to a certain set of rules to avoid plot conflicts is a very good idea.

  • Groovicron #19 7 years ago

    I think the obvious thing for them to do would be adapt the "Fall of Reach" book for the movie. Nicely introduces the setting and all the elements in it. Then just like the book finish the film with the discovery of the Halo as a perfect setup for the next part of the movie franchise.

  • ali-uk #20 7 years ago

    Sounds good, could actually be a good game-film conversion.

  • Nithron #21 7 years ago

    Man... i'm SERIOUSLY glad that, for once, a game franchise owner seems to know what the hell it's doing. I can't stand it when these other apparently clueless publishers(I'm looking at you, Capcom...) just palm their major franchises off to random movie studios, give them apparently all the creative freedom they want and essentially let them churn out steaming piles of cinematic shite. For some odd reason, THIS guy always seems to get his claws into video game adaptations and royally screws them up. Damn him.

  • Scimarad #22 7 years ago

    Hmm, they are either going to do a very bizarre film where the lead character spends the entire time wearing a reflective visor'd helmet or he takes it off and all the fanboys complain like mad.

  • Tyronne #23 7 years ago

    Considering the master chief never reveals his face in the games, you just know the film companies will do a `judge dredd` and want to take the helmet off.

  • Batfink #24 7 years ago

    Sorry, foreverafter, I really do think RvB is that bad. I've tried watching half a dozen episodes, and the humour is so incredibly thin. I didn't laugh once. I appreciate the technical tricks they've pulled to allow filming in a restricted environment, but the actual writing and stories are awful. If there's a stand-out episode that might change my mind - I'd love to see it!

  • Jdoki #25 7 years ago

    Good on MS! Nice to see a company actually taking care of it's IP's. Would make a change to see a decent game to film production rather than the useless drivel we've been subjected to... Street Fighter, Resident Evil,...

  • Xerx3s #26 7 years ago

    If they just make a spinoff with that sarge guy then it could be interesting (Like how the heck did he got off halo?!!). And as for Teeth, it does, claiming otherwise puts you in the same corner as the rest of the $ony fanboy *****.

    However, i do think that it should be made by europeans, americans cant make good films. Its all about overkill SFX nowadays :(. Perhaps a japanese anime spinoff? :) *imagines the MC shouting "Shineee!" at the cov's and them replying "BakaBakaBaka!"*

    /nandatimmeh! (for the ppl who know the joke)

    Edit: If they even consider taking his helmet off, i will personally buy a gun, fly over there and shoot em all (not in that order perhaps :\).
    Edited by 1 at 08/06/05 @ 23:51

  • Scimarad #27 7 years ago

    " Considering the master chief never reveals his face in the
    games, you just know the film companies will do a `judge
    dredd` and want to take the helmet off."

    Ahhh, I knew it wouldn't take long:-) How precisely are you going to do a serious film without him taking his lid off?

  • Lothar Hex #28 7 years ago

    If this thing does get made they should do 2 things.

    1) Get Steve Downes to do MC's voice. (He provided the voice in the games)
    2) Not reveal his face.

    Unless it's an adaptation of the Fall of Reach book (minus spelling and editing fuck ups mind you) then they should have his face as a kid shown, but ojnce he's older, no face and Steve Downes voice.

    Also, naked female marines wouldn't be a bad thing.

  • darkmistx #29 7 years ago

    "Good on MS! Nice to see a company actually taking care of
    it's IP's. Would make a change to see a decent game to film
    production rather than the useless drivel we've been
    subjected to... Street Fighter, Resident Evil,... "

    Good on M$. Trying to squeeze it's most profitable videogame IP for all it's worth. Like that was a surprise.
    Edited by 1 at 09/06/05 @ 10:18

  • Teeth #30 7 years ago

    I agree with Batfink, RvB is terrible. It's about as funny as that staged Leroy Jenkins WoW video.

  • Scimarad #31 7 years ago

    Why the f**k do you object to them showing his face? Are you trying to pretend he doesn't have one? He blatantly takes his helmet off at the end of Halo so it isn't as if he is suffering from Vaderitis. He would be a shite central character if you never see his face. Films ARE NOT games..

  • hoathenfold #32 7 years ago

    Maybe in Halo 3 we get to see MC's face and thats why they need to get this movie in progress, so they can use the actors likeness in the game too?

  • Les #33 7 years ago

    Did anyone ever notice that Master Dork is a cheap rip-off of Samus?

  • Groovicron #34 7 years ago

    Yeah how could they put their future warrior in armor with shiny faceplate and not expect us to realise he's a total rip off of Samus?!?!.........

    But seriously, I don't have too much of a problem with the helmet being taken off at times (although it would be nice if he did the sensible thing and actual wore it in a fire fight given the chance). Unlike in a game you're gonna need to see the actors face at times such as any emotional scenes. Dredd on the other hand hould never remove his helmet :) Hell any actor worthy of playing Dredd should be able to emote fine with just half his face visible.
    Edited by 1 at 10/06/05 @ 11:16

  • #35 7 years ago

    expect to see Eurogamer publish the news that Fox and Universal have jointly purchased the film rights, you'll probably see it on this site next week at some point... :D

  • Lothar Hex #36 7 years ago

    Scimarad, yes he takes off his helmet, but you don't see his face, the fact is that the helmet is his face, kind of like the aforementioned Judge Dredd's helmet is his. But like people have commented, having his face shownb at appropriate times (such as one of the few instances he won't be fighting) would be fine.

    Plus the helmet is part of his armour, not usually a good idea to take it off in hostile territory.

    Thing is, if this does go through, I just hope they don't turn Chief into a "Rambo" character. Going by the games and books, he's more of a "get in and get the job done and say maybe 2 'witty' lines" kind of person. Not a "Go in blow everything the fuck up and spout stupid lines every 5 seconds" character ala Stallone and Arnie.

    But lets face it, like every game movie, this has a 0% chance of actually being any good. I don't think there has been a good game movie yet (anybody who says Tomb Raider/Resident Evil, could you please gouge your eyes out with an ice-cream scoop?). So lets just all expect it to be shit, and we might be plesantly surprised if its slightly better than shit.

    Or we could just watch House of The Dead and then be safe in the knowledge it won't be as bad as THAT.
    Edited by 1 at 12/06/05 @ 09:32