Halo movie still on track

By Ellie Gibson Published 23 October, 2006

Say MS and Bungie.

Microsoft has confirmed that plans to produce a Halo movie are still going ahead, despite the decision of Fox and Universal to pull out of the project.

The movie studios were due to fund and distribute the Halo film, on the understanding that Microsoft Game Studios and developer Bungie would have almost complete creative control over the project.

But last week Fox and Universal demanded that their deals be improved - and when executive producers Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh refused, the studios pulled out.

Now Microsoft has released an official statement via the Bungie website which reads: "We are disappointed that Universal and Fox wanted to significantly renegotiate the financial points of the deal. But the Halo franchise is hugely popular and our goal remains the same - to find a partner that shares our passion and will creatively collaborate with us to best represent the story and spirit of the Halo franchise.

"Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and the rest of the creative team are dedicated to ensuring the Halo movie becomes a reality," the statement continues.

"We are already in discussions with potential partners who recognise the value of the Halo brand and its appeal to consumers worldwide."

Bungie has also reaffirmed its commitment to the Halo film, stating, "Frankly we're interested in making the best movie, and it's possible that a partner who's more concerned with numbers might not be the best partner for what's more vitally a creative process.

"Suffice it to say that Peter, Neill [Blomkamp, director], Fran and Microsoft are as excited and dedicated as ever and WETA continues the pre-production process."

More news is due to be announced "in the next few weeks".

Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (28) Latest comment 5 years ago

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

  • Aurifex. #1 5 years ago

    Money money money, ain't it funny.

  • Steroyd #2 5 years ago

    "Frankly we're interested in making the best movie, and it's possible that a partner who's more concerned with numbers might not be the best partner for what's more vitally a creative process.

    Havn't they just ruled out every Movie studio in existance.

  • rudedudejude #3 5 years ago

    Good to hear they didn't just bow down to the likes of Fox, to push out more generic action-flik crap.

  • repairmanjack #4 5 years ago

    More news to follow...

    Russell T Davis to rewrite the script?

  • markypants #5 5 years ago

    God it really is like Lord Of the Rings all over again.

    Only without gay midgets with hairy feet.

  • delbert #6 5 years ago

    Its good that the studios have pulled out now .. means they cant balls up the creative process like they normally do.. which sounds like the reason they have parted ways..
    Edited by 1 at 23/10/06 @ 12:35

  • space_ace #7 5 years ago

    news: 'halo' film too creative



    :D

  • MrAtheist #8 5 years ago

    My super secret industry sources told me Universal/Fox got cold feet after reading the script. It was based on Halo level design principles - the same 15 pages repeated seven times over! ;)

  • Les #9 5 years ago

    "the same 15 pages repeated seven times over! ;)"

    Works for most Holywood action flicks though...

  • chupachups #10 5 years ago

    "Its good that the studios have pulled out now .. means they cant balls up the creative process like they normally do.. "

    Who's going to pay for it though? Sci-fi epics don't come cheap.

  • Dr.Haggard #11 5 years ago

    They should spend the money on making a film version of 'Consider Phelbas' by Iain M Banks, from which a lot of the ideas in Halo were ripped.

    This topic is so 1999 *sigh*

    It's 'Phlebas' btw, and Larry Niven's 'Ringworld' pre-dates it by 20 odd years.
    Edited by 1 at 23/10/06 @ 13:01

  • Baz_Dude #12 5 years ago

    Microsoft will be funding the film now. They announced that today (or yesterday)

  • Xerx3s #13 5 years ago

    although this is hypothetical.. and probably unrealistic..

    What, like a company that started out with repairing toasters and such being one of the biggest in the music/film industry? Surely not.

    Stranger things have happened and MS is trying to find all kinds of new ways to tighten it's grip on the entertainment industry. It's like this giant octopus sitting on top of things, trying to wiggle it's tentacles into everything. :\

  • lambtron #14 5 years ago

    Sounds like one of those japanese films :D

  • stoopidgreg #15 5 years ago

    i'm interested to see how master chief's armour turns out. will it just look all plasticy and daft?

  • viperfoxbat #16 5 years ago

    Sony lost 124 million on Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. Microsoft could make this movie on the interest in one month on their 50 billion in cash.

  • KD #17 5 years ago

    aslong as they keep the director i couldnt care :)

    http://youtube .com/watch?v=4Zep9TlaPSo

  • Muddtallica #18 5 years ago

    I don't doubt that the current studio wrangling is nothing but a minor setback...you mark my words, the film will get a new backer, it will get funding, and it will be made. I just think that the success of Halo 2 was too high profile...there'll be at least one studio willing to take the financial gamble in the hope of winning big, Lord of the Rings style. Heck, it might even be New Line again at this rate, in which case they'd be thanking their lucky stars that the other studios are so short-sighted.

    Unless the film bombs. In which case, don't mark my words, because I never said any of this.

  • EmiliasHorse #19 5 years ago

    Having enjoyed the Halo Wars trailer several times I cannot help feeling a CGI Halo film would be the best thing to do. That way they can use the in-game cast as voice artists and keep the identity of Master Chief secret.
    But do serious (Not Pixar etc.) CGI films make money? Well FF Spirits within bombed and Advent Children didn't do great in the UK being released as a straight to DVD...Oh I have just talked myself out of it...Arse

  • Xerx3s #20 5 years ago

    Pixar! \0/

    /waits for mister chief spin-off.

  • polymorph #21 5 years ago

    Bill Gates should just get his wallet out, not only will the film make a profit its great promotion for halo and xbox in general. But it should be controlled by bungie and peter jackson no question.

    Good marketing as far as im concerned.

  • Gurgeh #22 5 years ago

    "It's 'Phlebas' btw, and Larry Niven's 'Ringworld' pre-dates it by 20 odd years. "

    Except Halo is an Orbital not a ringworld

    [link url=http://e n.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_Orbital
    ]http://en .wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_Orb...[/link]

  • Hive #23 5 years ago

    Oh cmon be fair, yes that Final Fantasy film was a flop but it was pretty rubbish, as amazing as it looked. I cant see why as *good* CGI film cant be a success.

  • Ihya #24 5 years ago

    ""Frankly we're interested in making the best movie, and it's possible that a partner who's more concerned with numbers might not be the best partner for what's more vitally a creative process.

    Havn't they just ruled out every Movie studio in existance."


    Yes, yes they have. The fact all studios are more concerned by $$$ rather than the creative process is reflected in the ammount of derivative shite that comes out at the cinemas. Don't try to see us lofty ideals Bungie. Its always about who gets to gorge on the biggest piece of the pie, and if they skullfuck the intelectual property in the process, then so be it.

  • Sid-Nice #25 5 years ago

    Anybody know what the movie is about?

  • gaselite #26 5 years ago

    "Bungie has also reaffirmed its commitment to the Halo film, stating, "Frankly we're interested in making the best movie, and it's possible that a partner who's more concerned with numbers might not be the best partner for what's more vitally a creative process."

    Something about saying that doesn't quite gel with me... what can the film medium offer to the Halo universe that a game can't in the hands of a developer as supposedly capable as Bungie?

  • Vin #27 5 years ago

    This is all for the best.

    You mark my words, EG.

  • Ace_McCloud #28 5 years ago

    @ wired_protocol

    Maybe that's not such a stupid idea...

    "Microsoft to fund Halo movie ? Fragland.net, Belgium - 50 minutes ago Over at AndNetwork is word that Microsoft may have found the ideal partner to fund the upcoming Halo movie : themselves!"

    http://www.halo-movie.co .uk