Following a swift withdrawal by film studios Fox and Universal, Microsoft is already in talks with other distribution projects to continue development of the Halo film, says Peter Jackson's representative Ken Kamins.
Prep work on the Halo film continues, Kamins tells Variety, mostly thanks to the involvement of exec producers Jackson and Walsh. Most of the pre-production is being done at their visual effects studios in New Zealand, Weta Digital and Weta Workshop, so there will be no stalling.
Both of the studios who backed the flick abruptly pulled out. Rumours say the studios were concerned over a budget rising above $135 million, but Kamins says disputes came after Fox and Universal tried to lower Microsoft's profit margines.
"What happened was this: Universal, on behalf of both studios, asked for a meeting with the filmmakers just prior to the due date of a significant payment," says Kamins.
"Basically, they said that in order to move forward with the film, the filmmakers had to significantly reduce their deals. They waited until the last minute to have this conversation. Peter and Fran, after speaking with their producing partners and with Microsoft and Bungie, respectfully declined."
Speculation also centred around the Halo film's newcomer director Neill Blomkamp, who's already filmed several Halo 3 shorts.
"Everybody is supremely confident in Neal," Kamins said. "Part of what excited Peter and Fran was Neal's vision. We're very confident this film will move forward with the creative partners intact, who will take the film to production."
The Halo shorts looked bloody great to us, and who knows; maybe they'll help the Microsoft's flick actually come to life this time. It'd be a shame to waste those real life Warthogs.
I think it would be Mega, of course you have the loyal fanbase already installed but I reckon the casual cinema customer could get into Halo like they got into LOTR, hey i'm not saying ones better than the other but a good story is a good story.
DO NOT MAKE THIS FILM!!! Look, i hate to sound negative all the time but you just know that any film of halo will be absolute pants (smelly ones at that). Just name one memorable game related movie.....no...thought so!
Judge Dredd - ruined by sly stallone not wearing helmet all the time!
Master Chief - will be played by some hollywood "star" and will always be seen minus helmet, unlike the game
DO NOT MAKE THIS FILM!!! Look, i hate to sound negative all the time but you just know that any film of halo will be absolute pants (smelly ones at that). Just name one memorable game related movie.....no...thought so!
Judge Dredd - ruined by sly stallone not wearing helmet all the time!
Master Chief - will be played by some hollywood "star" and will always be seen minus helmet, unlike the game
Peter Jackson will not allow this to happen, he is a fan of Halo and knows what the fans want, he also knows how to tell a story very well and after having a look at Blonkeamp(whatever) shorts i think he knows what to do as well.
DO NOT MAKE THIS FILM!!! Look, i hate to sound negative all the time but you just know that any film of halo will be absolute pants (smelly ones at that). Just name one memorable game related movie.....no...thought so!
Judge Dredd - ruined by sly stallone not wearing helmet all the time!
Master Chief - will be played by some hollywood "star" and will always be seen minus helmet, unlike the game
Peter Jackson will not allow this to happen, he is a fan of Halo and knows what the fans want, he also knows how to tell a story very well and after having a look at Blonkeamp(whatever) shorts i think he knows what to do as well.
Have a little faith.
Wish i could share your faith in the "Jackson" one, Stonecold, but i just can't see it not being ruined by the hollywood execs in exactly the same way that they spoiled Judge Dredd.
I can't see anyone other than firm haloids bothering to watch a halo film. Resident Evil works because the main character is a strong willed woman (to attract women) and fit (to attract men). Master chief is a faceless man in a suit. Who really gives a s**t. And the story is a confusing mess.
I can't see anyone other than firm haloids bothering to watch a halo film. Resident Evil works because the main character is a strong willed woman (to attract women) and fit (to attract men). Master chief is a faceless man in a suit. Who really gives a s**t. And the story is a confusing mess.
And Starship Troopers sold milyuns of tickets and DVDs because of the character play?
Big guns, big explosions, aliens. Throw in some naked women, and you're there.
And surely the only action films with plot that ever succeed are sci-fi anyway?
I can't see anyone other than firm haloids bothering to watch a halo film. Resident Evil works because the main character is a strong willed woman (to attract women) and fit (to attract men). Master chief is a faceless man in a suit. Who really gives a s**t. And the story is a confusing mess.
Tell the truth, are you having a laugh?
Why all the harsh comments for a proposed Halo movie, its not as if its Michael("Calm down Dear...It's only a Brute"Winner directing.
Peter feckin Jackson ladies and gentleman give the guy some dues.
I can't see anyone other than firm haloids bothering to watch a halo film. Resident Evil works because the main character is a strong willed woman (to attract women) and fit (to attract men). Master chief is a faceless man in a suit. Who really gives a s**t. And the story is a confusing mess.
Tell the truth, are you having a laugh?
Why all the harsh comments for a proposed Halo movie, its not as if its Michael("Calm down Dear...It's only a Brute"Winner directing.
Peter feckin Jackson ladies and gentleman give the guy some dues.
I think Peter Jackson is a good director, but you can't polish a turd. Halo is not suited (no pun intended) to achieve great things at the box office. And when was Starship troopers a box office hit? You need good characters and a good storyline like the original star wars trilogy. Anything less will suck.
I know that the game is very popular, but even if all those fans went to watch the film it would still flop.
I can't see anyone other than firm haloids bothering to watch a halo film. Resident Evil works because the main character is a strong willed woman (to attract women) and fit (to attract men). Master chief is a faceless man in a suit. Who really gives a s**t. And the story is a confusing mess.
Tell the truth, are you having a laugh?
Why all the harsh comments for a proposed Halo movie, its not as if its Michael("Calm down Dear...It's only a Brute"Winner directing.
Peter feckin Jackson ladies and gentleman give the guy some dues.
I think Peter Jackson is a good director, but you can't polish a turd. Halo is not suited (no pun intended) to achieve great things at the box office. And when was Starship troopers a box office hit? You need good characters and a good storyline like the original star wars trilogy. Anything less will suck.
I know that the game is very popular, but even if all those fans went to watch the film it would still flop.
Sorry, was about to start rationally discussing the matter with you, and then realised I'm talking to the world's #1 Sony fanboy.
Yes, if all those MILLIONS of Halo fans who have bought MILLIONS of copies of the game went to see the film, it'd be an utter ratings disaster. What was I thinking?
Personally I think this is one of the game series which could actually work well as a film. The Halo games always had that Hollwood vibe about them Just imagine Saving Private Ryan, put a futuristic spin on it and you have huge potential. Those live action shorts were great for a low budget experiment. I want to see what they are capable of with a huge budget. Let's just hope if it does happen that it won't be another game>movie flop.
Peter Jackson's name will carry this film a long way. Don't be surprised to see it splashed everywhere as prominently as the film title itself.
Also, didn't the director come out the other day and say that this film was deader than dead or something to that effect? Did they just catch him on a bad day or what?
Neil Blomkamp is a cinematic genius who's done great things with tiny budgets... He could work wonders with a s**tload of cash... and he has a style that will raise this above the usual videogame adaptation crap.
As for the people predicting it being a flop due to having no story... If Michael Bay and James Cameron can shift tickets with their hollow crap I'm sure Jackson and Co. can with Bungie's hollow crap.
I can't see anyone other than firm haloids bothering to watch a halo film. Resident Evil works because the main character is a strong willed woman (to attract women) and fit (to attract men). Master chief is a faceless man in a suit. Who really gives a s**t. And the story is a confusing mess.
Does anyone actually like the Resident Evil movies? I think they've been utter garbage so far- especially in the 2nd one where she fist fights the Nemesis... Don't care who's starring in it, doesn't make it "work"... you numpty.
Now go play your Halo wannabe Resistance or something.
Ruddy fanboys think they bloody know everything...
Well, I might have thought that the film wouldn't work, but that was before I saw the Halo shorts that the director has done. They actually show the potential for how a live action Halo film could work.
If you have haven't seen them, http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/3/e/53e836c0-2bf0-4614-8a90-2dde8a84f5fa/Halo_Landfall_RatedM_720p.mov
I really enjoyed the shorts and see potential for a full live action movie. As far as Peter Jackson goes, I can't see him letting the film go astray, nor can I see MS allowing a movie to water down the Halo franchise.
Microsoft have SO much money.... why don't they just make & distribute it themselves?
I have already said this, i can see something along the lines of this happening, f**king hell i mean didn't halo3 do $175 in its first day? There's your budget right there
Oh and im not in Peter Jacksons fanclub or anything but to say that he, blokamp (?) and WETA couldn't come up with a good-not to say-great film is foolish at best.
As long as Peter Jackson with the might of WETA, Neill Blomkamp and bungie (with Microsoft obviously) have sole decision making over the project it WILL be amazing. I remember the first rumours of a LOTR film back in 1997 from Jackson and everyone said "It can't be done!" but it was!
Halo is ultimately a great yarn (story) like "A New Hope" (star wars) was. Thats all a good film needs.
Wasn't it Neill Blomkamp who said that the film is completely dead and will never be made just a month or so ago? After all that's gone, I'll need a little mroe proof than this to believe it's going ahead.
Even if it does go ahead though, it'll come out too late and a lot of people will have forgotten about Halo. They should have released it just before or just after Halo 3 if they were going to do it.
Not only does the movie to be have a great staff on board, but they also do have a great story.
I senes by the comments I've read that all of you have only played the games, right? Would I be correct?
Well, if I am, there's a whole other world you are missing. HALO has many novels under its belt now. Matter of fact: one is due to release tomorrow.
I highly suggest you read them, whether you are a fan of HALO or not!
You don't even have to be a fan of the games to appreciate the high degree of quality in these novels. And if you are a sci-fi kind of person...you must read them.
And this source of material is what the movie-makers will most likely rely on to make their HALO movie. Trust me. HALO has HUGE backstory behind it! And though I wish I could write it all down here, I can't. Instead, I ask you to simply stop by your local bookstore (Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, whatever) and read about 50 or so pages of "HALO: The Fall of Reach". Do that, and then rethink your opinion. I can say with 90% certainty that you will think differently about the potential of this movie!
They made a hash of Spiderman 3 what hope has Halo got? Knowing Hollywood they would most probably throw in a love interest for Master Chief somehow that takes up 70% of the movie!
That seems to be the thing with action movies nowadays, At world's end, Rise of the silver surfer all spoilt with silly lovey dovey sideplots. Same with Transformers and the guy that happens to buy bumblebee at the used car place. He uses his car to pick up that girl that he fancies. Heck even the original Terminator had a sideplot with the main characters falling in love.
They made a hash of Spiderman 3 what hope has Halo got? Knowing Hollywood they would most probably throw in a love interest for Master Chief somehow that takes up 70% of the movie!
That seems to be the thing with action movies nowadays, At world's end, Rise of the silver surfer all spoilt with silly lovey dovey sideplots. Same with Transformers and the guy that happens to buy bumblebee at the used car place. He uses his car to pick up that girl that he fancies. Heck even the original Terminator had a sideplot with the main characters falling in love.
They made a hash of Spiderman 3 what hope has Halo got? Knowing Hollywood they would most probably throw in a love interest for Master Chief somehow that takes up 70% of the movie!
That seems to be the thing with action movies nowadays, At world's end, Rise of the silver surfer all spoilt with silly lovey dovey sideplots. Same with Transformers and the guy that happens to buy bumblebee at the used car place. He uses his car to pick up that girl that he fancies. Heck even the original Terminator had a sideplot with the main characters falling in love.
Prove me wrong Hollywood, prove me wrong!
But there is a love interest in Halo.
Cortana, if thats not love I dont know what is.
Aaah, but it's a platonic, maternal kinda love. Cortana is Dr. Halsey, after all.
To re-iterate what someone else said above - read the books!
They made a hash of Spiderman 3 what hope has Halo got? Knowing Hollywood they would most probably throw in a love interest for Master Chief somehow that takes up 70% of the movie!
That seems to be the thing with action movies nowadays, At world's end, Rise of the silver surfer all spoilt with silly lovey dovey sideplots. Same with Transformers and the guy that happens to buy bumblebee at the used car place. He uses his car to pick up that girl that he fancies. Heck even the original Terminator had a sideplot with the main characters falling in love.
Prove me wrong Hollywood, prove me wrong!
But there is a love interest in Halo.
Cortana, if thats not love I dont know what is.
There is?
It's ruined already that's gonna take up about 70% of the movie now.
They made a hash of Spiderman 3 what hope has Halo got? Knowing Hollywood they would most probably throw in a love interest for Master Chief somehow that takes up 70% of the movie!
That seems to be the thing with action movies nowadays, At world's end, Rise of the silver surfer all spoilt with silly lovey dovey sideplots. Same with Transformers and the guy that happens to buy bumblebee at the used car place. He uses his car to pick up that girl that he fancies. Heck even the original Terminator had a sideplot with the main characters falling in love.
Prove me wrong Hollywood, prove me wrong!
But there is a love interest in Halo.
Cortana, if thats not love I dont know what is.
There is?
It's ruined already that's gonna take up about 70% of the movie now.
C'mon, have you played Halo 2 and 3? Wasn't it obvious? Besides there's other love interests in the books, for other characters.
They made a hash of Spiderman 3 what hope has Halo got? Knowing Hollywood they would most probably throw in a love interest for Master Chief somehow that takes up 70% of the movie!
That seems to be the thing with action movies nowadays, At world's end, Rise of the silver surfer all spoilt with silly lovey dovey sideplots. Same with Transformers and the guy that happens to buy bumblebee at the used car place. He uses his car to pick up that girl that he fancies. Heck even the original Terminator had a sideplot with the main characters falling in love.
Prove me wrong Hollywood, prove me wrong!
But there is a love interest in Halo.
Cortana, if thats not love I dont know what is.
There is?
It's ruined already that's gonna take up about 70% of the movie now.
C'mon, have you played Halo 2 and 3? Wasn't it obvious? Besides there's other love interests in the books, for other characters.
Never read the books, I did notice the love interest thing but I wanna see more shooting and action than romantic scenes with characters falling in love and soppy music. Ruined Spiderman 3 for me as they spent too much time on the subject. Felt better off watching the cartoon that came on, on Saturday morning during my teen years.
I can't see anyone other than firm haloids bothering to watch a halo film. Resident Evil works because the main character is a strong willed woman (to attract women) and fit (to attract men). Master chief is a faceless man in a suit. Who really gives a s**t. And the story is a confusing mess.
Oh thats cool, only 10Million people will go see it then in its first week. . .
They made a hash of Spiderman 3 what hope has Halo got? Knowing Hollywood they would most probably throw in a love interest for Master Chief somehow that takes up 70% of the movie!
That seems to be the thing with action movies nowadays, At world's end, Rise of the silver surfer all spoilt with silly lovey dovey sideplots. Same with Transformers and the guy that happens to buy bumblebee at the used car place. He uses his car to pick up that girl that he fancies. Heck even the original Terminator had a sideplot with the main characters falling in love.
Prove me wrong Hollywood, prove me wrong!
But there is a love interest in Halo.
Cortana, if thats not love I dont know what is.
Aaah, but it's a platonic, maternal kinda love. Cortana is Dr. Halsey, after all.
To re-iterate what someone else said above - read the books!
I havent read the books, only played the games and after Halo 3 that is way more than a platonic bond that the Chief and Cortana have.
Okay a few things: Starship Troopers was lame because they took an intellectual book and made a cheesy scifi action film out of it. They did the same exact thing with I, Robot (read the book, 0% correlation with the film). The reason why movies based on things often don't do very well (i.e. Judge Dredd) is they're often a movie version of something most people aren't familiar with. If you don't have the promise of a big audience nobody's going to give you the money and resources needed to pull in talented actors and everything else you need to make a good film. Let's be honest too, you can make some great sci-fi action movies with relatively simple plots: Aliens, Terminator, Predator, The Fifth Element. Having Bungie and Microsoft directly involved with the project means you'll have some people working on it who really care, and will ensure its authenticity. Look at Peter Jackson and LOTR. Hand-crafted weapons, armor and other props, "orc classes" where they taught the extras playing various humanoids how to move and act like the creatures in question, etc. While many might complain about the 'crappy plot' of Halo 3, I've never played a video game that has a more complicated and intricate plot than most of the books I read.
*sigh* Why don't you check the date before you post lies.
Every quote in this article comes from http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117952317.html?categoryid=13&cs=1
A variety article from October 19th. 2006.
Halo movie is dead. Let it go.
hmm read this
"Everybody is supremely confident in Neal," Kamins said. "Part of what excited Peter and Fran was Neal's vision. We're very confident this film will move forward with the creative partners intact, who will take the film to production."
and this
GI: This is something that also came out today, and I’m not sure what you can say about it, but there are reports saying that the Halo movie has been declared dead officially. Any comments?
O’Connor: I haven’t seen that, but being declared dead is probably one studio’s viewpoint, and we still own the intellectual property, as far as Microsoft is concerned. Nobody can declare it dead except the owner of the IP.
so there...and as for books and games going to big screen...look at a list of upcoming movies and see how many books and video games are being made now....
also the whole reason the halo movie is stoping and going is one fact---profit and whos gonna have the bigger cut......also transformers 2 isoming out next june 21 so if they wanted to halo could be done good and fast...also another thing..movies of video games are trying to play like the game not a movie..and peters has too much vision to let his stuff come out like that.
also bungie wont allow the movie to show master c face..read the bungie web site..they have that on lock.
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And the story is a confusing mess. 
Winner directing. 
that's gonna take up about 70% of the movie now.
