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Spielberg And DreamWorks To Take On Halo Movie?

A few weeks ago, Microsoft's Frank O'Connor told Variety that the company is still interested in a Halo flick that would be a standalone story and not a retelling of any of the games in the franchise. With such a robust universe, it's safe to argue any director taking on the project would have plenty of material to work with to accomplish this. Recent reports say Steven Spielberg and DreamWorks may be on board.

According to New York Magazine's Vulture column, insiders say DreamWorks is focusing on creating films based off the novelizations of the franchise. Why focus on the books and not the games that made this franchise so popular? The answer is two-fold.

Universal and Fox originally agreed to option the Halo film and pay Microsoft 10 percent of earnings, with Universal overseeing production and distribution in the states. After years of legal drama Universal had dropped $12 million on the movie focusing on game canon, a project which was eventually pronounced dead. If DreamWorks sticks to the novels, the company saves itself a call from Universal lawyers demanding reimbursement for its earlier development costs. It also shows Microsoft that by using the novels, DreamWorks takes the Halo universe pretty seriously, or something like that.

There's still no formal announcement, and other anonymous Hollywood insiders quoted in the New York Magazine story don't seem to think a deal is likely. We'll have to keep watching to see how this one plays out.

Comments
  • awesome!! i want a HALO movie....they cant do a worse job on the story...but then again this is hollywood we are talking about
  • But the novels incorporate the first game. Either way, hope they don't butcher it.

  • i hate movies based upon books most of the time though... then again movies based upon games track records havent faired very well either. glad to hear it but i will be cautious about it if it comes to fruitition

  • Mod

    A Halo movie based on games or novels is still a Halo Movie...awesomesauce!

  • I think it will be a miracle of a Halo movie ever gets greenlit at this point...

  • Hey, I dropped this bit of news to you guys 6 hours ago...did you already have this article in the works?

  • Master chief has a face in the novels, that'll be a big boost as well.
  • as long as dreamworks doesn't turn halo into something cutesy I could care less. At this point any movie is asking a lot.

  • If this movie is to be made, I just want an excellent Halo story.  Using the novels definitely leads to Master Chief being a central figure in the movie.

  • He'll *** this up for sure.

  • Really... stephen spielburg... WHY NOT NEILL BLOMKAMP?! >:(

  • Would have been awsome if they could have made a movie on the fall of reach based upon the book, but considering its a game now, not sure where they could start. I'd say Ghosts of Onyx just because its got one hellava ending, but it seems like the kinda book people would make into a political statement.

  • not to sure how to react

    not a lot of game based movies have really made the cut

    the sonic movie in 08 was good just VERY bad voice acting

  • halo movie, if done right, could be the best movie ever. if done wrong...

  • If they do make a movie, I'd like a more deeper storyline, not just a bunch of explosions and stuff. The storyline in the game isn't so hot, so seeing the movie shed light on stuff from the past would be SWEET!

  • They should do it on Harvest.

  • I'll watch it, if it ever gets made.

  • I'm somewhat disappointed that the movies can't be based on the games; without the Master Chief on the poster or in the trailers, how do you bring an audience that's expecting to see the most iconic contemporary video game character to film?

  • I suppose. I'd still rather see a game adaption though.

  • They should take their time with this movie. Honestly the Halo Games story was not a masterpiece but there is so much mythology and creativity in them that a Halo movie could pave the way for Video Game movies to be taken seriously.

    I also do not want Spielburg to direct this movie. He will most likely produce it because he has way to many directing projects on his hands.

    If I were to choose a director it would be Duncan Jones (Moon). Spielburg produce, get Alex Garland (28 Days Later, The Original Halo Movie script) and Mark Boal (The Hurt Locker) to write it. Get Marty O'Donnell to compose the score and if he cannot then get Clint Mansell (Moon, The Fountain) or Michael Giacchino (Star Trek, Cloverfield).

    Get WETA and Peter Jackson invloved. Maybe some Andy Serkis for the Brutes and Elites.


    Thats would be a good Halo movie.
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