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Halo Movie May Happen After All

Posted by timothy on Sun Jun 12, 2005 12:50 PM
from the you-must-care-about-this dept.
Media Movies Entertainment Games
spizkapa writes "On the back of the story about the Halo competition, Microsoft are reported to have reached a deal with Universal Pictures and Twentieth Century Fox to make a movie based on Halo and Halo-2. Apparently, Microsoft initially wanted $10 million plus 15% of the box office revenue but the deal was struck when the two studios teamed up and offered $5 million and 10% of initial box office revenue. Apparently, the formal announcement will take a further week after creative issues are agreed between the three parties involved."
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[+] Games: Halo Movie Postponed, Street Fighter Movie On 76 comments
FofR writes "Given the previous statements concerning the Halo Movie's stalled progress, it should come as no surprise that the movie is now officially on hold." From the article: "At this time Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh, along with their partner, Microsoft, have mutually agreed to postpone making a feature film based on the Halo video game universe until we can fulfill the promise we made to millions of Halo fans throughout the world that we would settle for no less than bringing a first class film to the big screen. We are fully supportive of Director Neill Blomkamp's vision of the film. Neill is a tremendously gifted filmmaker and his preliminary work on Halo is truly awe-inspiring. While it will undoubtedly take a little longer for Halo to reach the big screen, we are confident that the final feature film will be well worth the wait." You'll be happy to know even if a Jackson-inspired Halo isn't coming our way, at least we can look forward to another Street Fighter movie.
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  • Red Vs.Blue (Score:5, Funny)

    by dextroz (808012) on Sunday June 12 2005, @12:52PM (#12795911)
    They could just rehash the Red Vs Blue videos in high quality and 5.1 and it would be hilarious all over again!
    • They could do worse than to have the Red vs. Blue guys write the script. There's never been a game-related intentional* comedy before. A Halo movie with humor would be great. Bungie has always been known for throwing inside jokes into their games. A comedic/dramatic Halo movie would rock.

      * Many previous game-related movies have been unintentional laugh riots.

  • I don't know what to say (Score:3, Funny)

    by udderly (890305) on Sunday June 12 2005, @12:53PM (#12795914)
    They are really making a movie out of a video game? I guess that I just don't understand.
    • You mean, you aren't aware that all video game-> movie transitions suck ass? Need I remind everyone of Street Fighter, the movie so bad it killed Raul Julia? Or how about Super Mario Bros. ?

      Or maybe it's the confusion over why Microsoft would deserve anything but a token amount of upfront cash, seeing how they had nothing to do with writing what little story is behind a FPS game.

      • So what is so original about this game that a studio needs to pay for the rights rather than do a sci-fi movie from scratch?

        My (very) vague knowledge of the game is that it is set in an ring-like orbital. Maybe they'd get a cheaper deal off Iain M. Banks as he has plenty of these in his Culture novels. That's assuming any sci-fi author is still willing to sell rights after 'I, Robot.' :)
        • Well, with doing a franchise picture, you already have brand recognizability and several million guaranteed audience members.

        • Re:I don't know what to say (Score:5, Interesting)

          by ScrewMaster (602015) on Sunday June 12 2005, @01:40PM (#12796222)
          Unfortunately, Isaac Asimov died long before anyone thought about making a movie. Presumably, if he were still alive he would have exercised greater creative control, but I guess that's what happens when you deal with an author's estate ... all they care about is that they have some valuable IP to sell. Now, I, Robot was a quality movie in its own right and had it been called "Robot Independence Day" or some such I would have enjoyed it just fine, but they made the mistake of trying to reel in Asimov fans by hyping how it was based on his books. That was really a dumb move, considering that they've pretty much alienated most of them (I certainly won't bother taking in an I, Robot II, that's for sure.)

          But yeah, you're right in that this is all about trying to capitalize on the success of a plot idea in one medium, by hoping it will translate into success in another. Taking on a genuinely new idea is more of a risk than recycling an existing successful one. Well, at least that seems to be the prevailing point of view in the industry. Generally it doesn't work so well, though. For that matter, the video game industry itself has fallen prey to the same kind of innovation-killing thinking that Hollywood has.

          • But yeah, you're right in that this is all about trying to capitalize on the success of a plot idea in one medium, by hoping it will translate into success in another.

            Actually my point was more along the lines of why do they need to pay huge fees to Microsoft for ideas that are common Sci-Fi standards. They don't need to.

            I think the previous poster was right - they are paying solely for brand recognition. I just disagree that this is in any way worth 10% of takings and millions in advance. Instead, t

          • You could take a different slant. I know a lot of people (a younger crowd, for sure) that hadn't been exposed to Asimov until this. As far as movies go, it almost certainly drew more people to read his work than Contact. You got to watch a fun action-blockbuster movie with cool visuals, and someone else got exposed to Isaac Asimov's name and hints of his ideas for the first time. And Asimov's estate made some money.

            If it had actually been craptastic (as I'm sure many people here feel) then I could see

    • Re:I don't know what to say (Score:5, Funny)

      by screwballicus (313964) on Sunday June 12 2005, @01:01PM (#12795968)
      In case you aren't aware, some of the

      great [imdb.com]
      masterpieces [imdb.com]
      of the
      modern [imdb.com]
      era [imdb.com]

      are based on video games.
      • In case you aren't aware, some of the

        great
        masterpieces
        of the
        modern
        era

        are based on video games.

        If there's any marketing / advertising person at imdb who has to analyse the hits for various movies, I'd love to see them trying to puzzle out the /. anomalies.

        "Hmmm... 2:10 EST, sudden massive spikes on Street Fighter and House of the Dead. What does it MEEEAANNN!!!!"
    • I guess I am the only one that thought the Halo storylines sucked ass. Predictible and assinine, and a bit too fluffy for my liking. What the hell is up with all the purple and PINK? Are we fighting the Care Bears?
        • You know, you probably didn't pay much attention to the plot if you think it sucked. There are a lot of little details that make things much more interesting.

          Now if you want a REALLY good plot in a FPS, buy a Mac and play the Marathon series. (also by Bungie) You'll probably have a greater appreciation for Halo after that.

          Of course, if you don't have a Mac, just check out marathon.bungie.org and halo.bungie.org and read up on their story discussions. Then you'll start to realize the depth that Bung

  • an educated guess (Score:5, Funny)

    by DualG5GUNZ (762655) * on Sunday June 12 2005, @12:55PM (#12795927)
    The irony of this movie is that all the graphics work will be done on Macs.

    • Re:an educated guess (Score:5, Informative)

      by the_weasel (323320) on Sunday June 12 2005, @12:58PM (#12795950) Homepage
      Don't bet on it.

      Outside of Pixar, the actual use of Mac's for animation and effects is still a very small minority.

      • Also, note that Pixar uses Macs and PC's running linux for animation.
        What kind of computers does Pixar use to make its movies? "We use Macs, we use PCs running Linux," Jobs admitted. "It pains me to write that purchase order to Dell."
        • "We use Macs, we use PCs running Linux," Jobs admitted. "It pains me to write that purchase order to Dell."

          Perhaps this is yet another reason why Apple is going MacIntel? ;-) I'm sure those spiffy new x86 Macs will happily run Debian when they are released.
      • Don't bet on it.

        Outside of Pixar, the actual use of Mac's for animation and effects is still a very small minority.

        So they'll be using Linux on Intel?

  • Quality Control? (Score:5, Interesting)

    by alvinrod (889928) on Sunday June 12 2005, @12:59PM (#12795953)
    Although Microsoft seems to be pushing to have a say in the creative developement of the movie, I'm wondering how much they'll end up getting. I'd really hate to see a movie with so much promise end up being ruined by a movie company that probably doesn't know anything about the Halo universe.

    The major console makers and game studies should jointly create a studio, or an offshoot of one of the major ones that currently exists that will be responsible for making all game movies. This way the game companies will have a lot more decision making process and control over the content of the movies. Although something like this will never happen, it would prevent any chance of Halo being turned into a romantic comedy by some movie company who's bigwigs wouldn't know their ass from an Xbox.

    • > Although Microsoft seems to be pushing to have a say in the creative developement of the movie, I'm wondering how much they'll end up getting

      The Covenant will run Linux.

      Rumors are that Jeff Goldblum will have a leading role too...
    • Although Microsoft seems to be pushing to have a say in the creative developement of the movie, I'm wondering how much they'll end up getting. I'd really hate to see a movie with so much promise end up being ruined by a movie company that probably doesn't know anything about the Halo universe.

      From everything I've heard about the Halo "storyline" the only chance we have of a decent movie is to keep Microsoft far away from the project.
      • I'm not quite sure what you're saying, partially because I think you're confusing who wrote the game and who published it. The game is by Bungie Software. Microsoft is that big company in Redmond that builds the X-box. Keeping Microsoft away from the project would probably help keep the game consistent with the original storyline, which apparently you have "heard" about but not experienced.

        I personally think it's a great storyline and turns a game with already fun gameplay into an awesome experience.
    • So much promise? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

      Has ANY movie based on a video game been close to good? The only one I can think of is MAYBE Mortal Kombat.

      • There was a slashdot article (lost in the depths of time) which announced that Hollywood movie makers/cartoon story writers had derived the ten crucial elements of a hit movie. These included the hero, the hero's mentor, his nemesis, his woman of desire, his sidekicks, the quest, the first failure/turning back, the final fight, the victory and the happy ending.

        Top Gun, Superman, Star Wars are examples of such movies.

        Many of the video games don't really have these elements, so even with the best special ef
    • because that whole "game designers know most about the game universe and can thus create greate movies" concept worked so greate for wing commander or final fantasy?
    • a movie with so much promise

      Someone needs to watch the Mario Brothers movie... Double Dragon, Street Fighter, Resident Evil, etc.

      I wish I hadn't.
    • "Although Microsoft seems to be pushing to have a say in the creative developement of the movie, I'm wondering how much they'll end up getting. I'd really hate to see a movie with so much promise end up being ruined by a movie company that probably doesn't know anything about the Halo universe."

      Wait... you think the movie studio is going to have a better idea than the company who made millions on it?
    • Well, at least the script they're starting with is completely approved by Bungie. Here's what Frankie (of bungie.net "weekly what's update" fame) has to say about it:

      Moviegoers ask,
      Have you read the Halo movie script?

      I've read an early draft of the script, and it rules. I heart Alex Garland's stuff anyway, from The Tesseract to 28 Days Later. Garland also wrote the script for an upcoming Sci-Fi flick, Sunshine, which you can read more about here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448134/ [imdb.com]

      Best thing a

      • Um, hype up Halo 3 for Xbox 360? Sell more Xbox 360's? Anything that promotes your brand or a product exclusively available on your product is basically indirect advertising. Betcha that, when the film is released, there will be a big Xbox 360 commercial before the films starts. And hopefully that's where the advertising will end and a solid movie plot will begin.
  • They already had like 5 bajillion hours of cut scenes in Halo 2.

    Take out the game play in between, and you've got a movie that's longer than most of the ones coming out lately.

  • Box office revenue vs profit (Score:5, Informative)

    by magarity (164372) on Sunday June 12 2005, @01:03PM (#12795980)
    plus 15% of the box office revenue

    Notice Microsoft is smart enough to not want a cut of total profits. The history of movies is littered with the broken remains of writers who sold their movie rights for a percentage of the profits only to find that movies make no profits. It's called "Hollywood accounting". If you ever have, or ever know someone who is getting a movie deal, make sure the contract is for a cut of the box office take and not the profits.
  • Staring 'Chiefing' Master Chief?

    Hey, it could work.
  • I'm not a big Halo fan myself (fps don't belong on consoles, but that's a flame for another day) but it's kind of refreshing that the movie industry is whoring itself out to the gaming industry for once, instead of the other way around. I'm sick of crappy games being put out by every single movie, just as an extra boost for cash.

    Of course, movies have been made before based on games, but Hollywood merely buys the name, and makes a craptastical movie having nothing to do with the actual game (see Resident Evil, Alone in the Dark, soon to be Doom 3) in hopes that the popularity of the name will bring revenue. Hopefully this time a gaming franchise will be saved from this fate due to Bungie's insistance on Hollywood following the Halo Bible.

  • Let's just hope... (Score:4, Funny)

    by Spoing (152917) on Sunday June 12 2005, @01:09PM (#12796018) Homepage
    ...it's as good as Wing Commander. [leaps into flame-proof bunker]

  • Good Negotiating Tactics (Score:5, Informative)

    by MBraynard (653724) on Sunday June 12 2005, @01:16PM (#12796066) Journal
    It's always wise to begin the negotiations by asking for too much that the other side can back away from than risk asking for too little. This was one of the more worthwhile lessons from one of the tasks in the Apprentice Season 3.

    This movie is by no means a guaruanteed success. Let's take a look at the last few video game movies (Ignoring Pokemon):

    • Resident Evil - Gross: $40m (Domestic), Costs: $53m.
    • Resident Evil: Apocolypse - Gross: 51m (Domestic), Costs: $70m.
    • Super Mario Brothers - Gross: $21m (Domestic), Costs: $48m.
    • Mortal Kombat - Gross: $70m (Domestic) 52m (Overseas), Costs: $?m.
    • Mortal Kombat 2- Gross: $36m (Domestic) 15m (Overseas), Costs: $?m.
    • Tomb Raider: $131m (Domestic) $143m (Overseas), Costs: $115m (Production only, not marketing).
    • House of the Dead - Gross: $10m (Domestic) 4m (Overseas), Costs: $22m.
    • Double Dragon - Gross: $2m (Domestic), Costs: $?m.
    • Final Fantasy - Gross: $32m (Domestic) 53m (Overseas), Costs: $137m.
    • Street Fighter - Gross: $33m (Domestic) $66m (Overseas), Costs: $35m (production only, no marketing).
    • Wing Commander - Gross: $12m (Domestic), Costs: $30m (marketing not included).

    Ok, I'm sure I missed. But the one that Halo most resembles in terms of popularity and a big budget is Final Fantasy. I really enjoyed that film, and I'm unsure why it did so poorly. But from MS's point of view, they have nothing at risk financially (maybe a lousy movie - and that didn't hurt the popularity of Mario's games). Expect to see trailers for Halo3 at the start of the HAlo Movie.

      • You pretty much nailed it to a "T" right there - odds are if the movie had been marked as "The Sprits Within" and that is was produced by the creators of Final Fantasy it would have done much better.

        If you put aside the Final Fantasy in the name the movie is a decent enough Sci-Fi flick with some slight philosophical overtones, but it is no way worthy of the Final Fantasy name.

  • Tomb raider and Resident Evil (Score:3, Funny)

    by zymano (581466) on Sunday June 12 2005, @01:24PM (#12796115)
    Should have won oscars.

    I predict Halo will be bigger than Star Wars.

  • Halo Bible? (Score:4, Insightful)

    by thundar2000 (459149) on Sunday June 12 2005, @01:42PM (#12796235)

    Um, isn't the Halo Bible just:

    Shoot Aliens, Open Door, Repeat.

    (and)

    Halo really is just Ringworld meets Starship Troopers meets Doom - not very original, I'm pretty sure it will make a stinky movie.

    Back to the game...

  • They would be much better off... (Score:3, Informative)

    by Razzak (253908) on Sunday June 12 2005, @01:42PM (#12796237)
    If they used the Marathon storyline as opposed to the Halo storyline. For those who don't know, Marathon, Marathon: Durandal, and the final Marathon were all for mac before MS bought Bungie. The first two had the best storylines ever, and were written by a different company than the 3rd and the Halo series. I really hope the first two are used for the storyline, as they are far superior in enough ambiguity to make it interesting (think: Bladerunner) and the best AI character development I've ever seen.

    http://marathon.bungie.org/story/ [bungie.org]
  • ...they'll lean heavily on Eric Nylund's novelizations, which are pretty good. You need additional backstory and characterization to make a decent script out of Halo, and these books provide it.
  • Just the other day, I overheard a number of noted French art-film directors and aficionados at La Petite Couchon, a Cannes sidewalk bistro, enthusing about how excited they were about the prospect of a Halo movie. They were also excited about a possible Halo II movie, and were practically beside themselves with joy at the idea of the angst, dystopianism and emotional involvement of the Master Chief being brought to the silver screen.
  • Oh come on, we all know they just want to make a movie so they can make a game out of it! Those bastards! ... what, why is everyone staring at me?

  • Plot spoiler.... (Score:5, Funny)

    by ProppaT (557551) on Sunday June 12 2005, @04:39PM (#12797488) Homepage
    Master Chief realizes that Master Chief isn't a rank in the marines. The end.

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