Halo (film)

Rumors of a Halo Movie have been circulating since the release of the first game, but in 2004 it was officially confirmed by Bungie. While the movie was intended to be distributed by 20th Century Fox and Universal Pictures (the former distributing it internationally, and the latter distributing it in North America), both pulled out of the deal for unknown reasons in October 2006, postponing the Halo movie indefinitely until new distributors can be found.
The movie would have been a live-action movie, but with a heavy amount of CGI. Wingnut Films, the team behind Lord of the Rings and King Kong, was also working on the movie. Before it was delayed, it was revealed that the film would have been shot in Wellington, New Zealand, and was slated for a Summer 2009 release.Coming Soon.net: Halo Director Announced! To keep the producers true to the Halo Universe, Bungie prepared an exhaustive encyclopedia known to some as either the "Halo Compendium" or the Halo Story Bible. This describes nearly every topic in the Halo games and novels including graphics of characters, species and vessels. The Halo 3 promotional Landfall series has been considered a test of viewer interest in a possible Halo movie.Bungie.net: The Great (Hollywood) Journey, Part One The Internet Movie Database currently lists a new attempt at a Halo movie, with no known release date.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0464037
==Production Notes==
Peter Jackson, a Halo fan, was confirmed as executive producer for the film.http://youtube.com/watch?v=KlwmSfiaTJ4 While it was assumed that he would also direct, the announcement of Neill Blomkamp as director proved that speculation as false. Jackson said he was tired after spending so much time on King Kong, and that Halo would have been a break. Blomkamp is an acclaimed director of short films and commercials. He has also won Clios and a Visual Effects Society Award, and was nominated for an Emmy Award for his work on James Cameron's TV series Dark Angel. And recently he made District 9.
In August 2009, Neill Blomkamp stated the budget for the movie was around $120 million.http://movieblog.ugo.com/movies/district-9-neill-blomkamp-interview
Also in August 2009, Neill Blomkamp stated that ""In regards to Halo, my involvement is probably dead, I don't want it, if they came back and offered it to me I'd say no."http://movies.ign.com/articles/101/1018543p1.html
===Script===
A website called LatinoReview.com has posted a script review of the upcoming Halo movie; Rampancy.net asserts that it's credible; however, Bungie has said the story is not complete.
Joseph Staten has said before that what would have been the "final" script for the film, would have had John-117 as a secondary character, taking a backseat to others for storytelling purposes.Staten interview.
Also, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra writer Stuart Beattie wrote a spec script during the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike. The script is an adaptation of Eric Nylund's novel Halo: The Fall of Reach. He commented that The Fall of Reach would be the best choice for a movie adaptation:http://www.reelzchannel.com/movie-news/3917/a-halo-script-is-out-there-and-ready-to-be-made
===Timeline===
*Summer of 2002: With the success of Halo: Combat Evolved, Hollywood producers voice interest about making a Halo movie. Concerns over creative control sunk the idea, "thanks but no thanks" said Joseph Staten.
*2004, before the Halo 2 launch: A Hollywood player, Peter Schlessel starts to meet with Bungie staff to discuss movie plans. He proposes that instead of leaving it up to Hollywood, "Finance the script yourselves, Hire a writer, have him write something you love, then bring it to Hollywood with a simple message: This is the movie we want to make. Who wants to make it with us?" On the list of Schlessel approved writers is Alex Garland, who Bungie pick for reasons listed in above article.
*February 3, 2005: Creative Artists Agency confirmed that Microsoft had completed a million-dollar deal with Alex Garland to write a screenplay based on the video game series Halo, which would then be offered to studios.Variety.com: Halo, Hollywood
*June 7, 2005: Microsoft released Garland's completed screenplay to various Hollywood studios, looking to be paid a $10 million fee as well as the studio's agreement to adhere to guidelines set by the game's developers.IGN: Halo Movie Script Delivered Microsoft also wanted the studio to seek approval over the director and cast. In addition, Microsoft sought full merchandising rights for itself, a minimum $75 million budget, and company representatives' full access to the film's rough cuts in Los Angeles. Studios like Paramount, DreamWorks, Sony, and Warner Bros. did not want to cede creative rights to the film and passed over the project.E! Online: Hollywood's Halo Effect
*June 2005: 20th Century Fox and Universal Studios entered negotiations with Microsoft to divide the distribution rights of Halo. The original $10 million deal was reduced based on the studios' negative response to the exorbitant price tag. In the negotiations, Universal would distribute the film in North America, while Fox would distribute the film overseas. On August 22, 2005, Microsoft's deal with the studios was announced to be finalized, with Summer 2008 as the target release date.Variety: Halo makes a date
*October 4, 2005: Bungie Studios announced that director Peter Jackson was signed onto the project as an executive producer.Bungie.net: The Great Hollywood Journey, Part II
*July 13, 2006: Author D.B. Weiss revealed in an interview that he was writing the screenplay for Halo. At the time of the interview, Weiss said that he was working on his second draft of the new script, which contained elements of the project's original screenplay by Alex Garland.GameSetWatch: GameSetInterview: Halo Screenwriter DB Weiss
*August 2006: Neill Blomkamp is picked by Jackson as the director of the Halo movie.
*October 20, 2006: Universal and Fox pull out of the deal.http://palgn.com.au/article.php A representative of Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh said:
The source article also stated that work is apparently continuing on the film (which will be directed by Neill Blomkamp) and that Microsoft is already in talks with other distributors.
*October 31, 2006: Producers Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh, along with Microsoft, place the much-anticipated Halo movie into development hell, in which a film (or other piece of media) has stopped in the production stage, and therefore "trapped" in development. Following recent reports that development of the film would continue in spite of studio backers Fox and Universal dropping out, a press release being distributed by Jackson's WingNut Films today confirms that the Halo film is being indefinitely postponed. Here's their statement regarding the film:
*May 21, 2007: In an interview with Cinematical.com, Peter Jackson stated that he expected the project to continue soon, once the movie studios "catch a glimpse of the Halo hype first-hand" (with the release of Halo 3).Erik Davis (2007-05-26). Peter Jackson on Halo, The Hobbit, and Dambusters
*July 5, 2007: Unconfirmed rumors began to circulate that 20th Century Fox would pickup rights with the movie, however they were never confirmed, putting the development of the Halo movie in question once again.
*October 4, 2007: The Halo Movie is announced dead by director Neil Blomkamp.http://www.bitsofnews.com/content/view/6240
*October 5, 2007: Frank O'Connor says in an interview with Game Informer that "nobody can declare it [the film] dead except for the owner of the IP [Microsoft]" in response to Blomkamp's statement.http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200710/N07.1005.1034.54066.htm?Page=4
*October 29, 2007: Ken Kamins, Peter Jackson's representative, has confirmed in an interview that the Halo film is still in pre-production phase. "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." According to Kamins would-be director Blomkamp has not been dropped either, in spite of his earlier statements:http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=174687
*January 18, 2008: Bungie mentions in its weekly update that the Halo movie is still on hold, but they posted pictures of armor and weapon replicas made by Weta's Workshop that were used in the Halo: Landfall short films.http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=13174
*April 1, 2008: G.I. Joe screenwriter Stuart Beattie says he wrote spec-scripts for three potential Halo films; first one being Halo: Fall of Reach, second being Halo: The Rise of the Flood, and last one being Halo: The Battle of Earth. Initially expected to be an April Fools joke, it was later confirmed to be genuine, though he was working in an unofficial capacity.http://www.latinoreview.com/news/exclusive-halo-movie-has-reach-4305
*July 21, 2008: Microsoft Game Studios' Phil Spencer and vice president of Strategy and Business Development Shane Kim say in a video interview that they are still in discussions with various potential partners and that there continues to be tremendous interest. Quoted from the video: "We wanna make sure, whenever we translate it to the big screen that its going to be a movie worthy of the IP (intellectual property). So we’re going to be very careful about how we proceed there."http://kotaku.com/5027298/phil-spencer-and-shane-kim-talk-halo
*August 4, 2008: Unofficial concept art for a Halo: The Fall of Reach movie is shown.http://www.latinoreview.com/news/exclusive-halo-fall-of-reach-concept-art-5150
*July 24, 2009: At Comic-Con, Neill Blomkamp denies that his upcoming film (District 9) is a showcase for how he could handle a Halo film, and confirms that he is no longer involved:Slashfilm.com interview with Neill Blomkamp
Peter Jackson also revealed that it was "studio politics" that brought down the Halo movie and not due to the fact that Neill was a new director or the budget cost of the film.http://www.dailymail.com/ap/ApEntertainment/200907240770 As for Halo: Chronicles, he says that it was scrapped when the movie collapsed as well.http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/24/peter-jackson-halo-chronicles-no-longer-happening/
*July 26, 2009: Jackson responds to questions about the current status of the film:http://www.worstpreviews.com/headline.php?id=14401&count=0
*July 30, 2009: Microsoft claims that Peter Jackson's Halo projects are not, in fact, dead. "Microsoft Game Studios is deeply committed to supporting and strategically growing the Halo franchise, and our relationship with Peter and his team is something that we greatly value. Given the bandwidth of both of our companies we've decided to put this joint effort on hold and prioritize resources against other projects like Halo 3: ODST, Halo: Reach and Halo Legends."http://www.incgamers.com/News/17692/peter-jacksons-halo-projects-not-dead
*August 3, 2009: Stuart Beattie elaborates on his Halo effort in an interview:
*August 7, 2009: Rumors arise that Steven Spielberg was greatly impressed with Stuart Beattie's take on Halo and is planning to sign on as the producer. The article also states that he is in active negotiations with Microsoft to acquire the film rights for DreamWorks, as they are looking for a big tent pole to help launch their newly independent studio (with distribution over at Walt Disney Pictures) after losing Transformers to Paramount.http://www.iesb.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7261:iesb-exclusive-master-chief-and-halo-may-be-coming-to-the-big-screen-sooner-than-expected-with-a-new-big-name-producer&catid=43:exclusive-features&Itemid=73
*August 11, 2009: A Microsoft spokesperson responds on the Spielberg reports saying that they're "glad that there's still a lot of enthusiasm in the entertainment industry surrounding the idea of a Halo movie." But he further states that film is still on hold and that they are putting their full focus on Halo 3: ODST and Halo: Reach until further notice.http://kotaku.com/5334508/microsoft-halo-movie-still-on-hold
*October 5, 2009: Frank O' Connor confirms that Microsoft is still "being very careful to pick the right time and the right partner" to get the development of the movie restarted in an interview with USA Today. He also reveals that future Halo installments in the franchise are being planned out for the next six years that will provide conclusions to the canon storyline.http://www.usatoday.com/tech/gaming/2009-10-05-halo-spins-off-products_N.htm
*March 25, 2010: It is revealed that interest in the film is high once more due to Halo Legends and the upcoming Halo: Reach game.http://www.industrygamers.com/news/halo-reach-should-make-a-halo-movie-more-likely-says-bungie/
*April 7, 2010: Frank O'Connor discuss the impact of a Halo movie on the franchise:http://movies.ign.com/articles/108/1082457p1.html
*September 4, 2010: O'Connor says that any Halo film would likely serve as a standalone story and won't be "a verbatim retelling of the game." It is reported that they are still developing Alex Garland's, Stuart Beattie's, D.B. Weiss's, and Josh Olson's work as potential blueprints for an updated screenplay. Microsoft's aim now with Halo: Reach is for the game to relate to wider audiences in order to pave the way for a bigscreen adaptation, hence director Noam Murro's Remember Reach live-action shorts for Reach's viral marketing campaign. A potential television series is on the horizon as well.http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118023688.html?categoryid=1009&cs=1
*October 6, 2010: It is confirmed that DreamWorks is determined in obtaining the distribution rights for the film.http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2010/10/the_new_halo_video_game_is_a_h.html
*October 8, 2010: A possible 2014 release date is revealed by Starlight Runner Entertainment CEO Jeff Gomez during a panel at the New York Comic Con.http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/09/halo-franchise-roadmap-includes-new-trilogies-and-film-transmed/2
*April 2013: Neill Blomkamp expresses interest in returning to the Halo film in an interview with IGN, after previously declining.
*May 2013: During the Microsoft reveal of the Xbox One, it was announced that there would be a new Halo Television Series to be premiered exclusively via the newly created Xbox Entertainment Studios. To ensure a quality product, Xbox Entertainment Studios hired Steven Spielberg as the Executive Producer of the series.
*January 2014: Word came from Production Weekly that an "Untitled Halo Project" is in development with Ridley Scott attached. Production Weekley says "The HALO project is a live-action feature-length digital produced by Ridley Scott," adding that Paul Scheuring ("Prison Break") is writing the screenplay. According to the website, this has nothing to do with Spielberg or Jackson.http://www.worstpreviews.com/headline.php?id=30236 However, Microsoft later debunked this in an official statement stating that there are no plans for a Halo movie at this time. http://movies.cosmicbooknews.com/content/no-ridley-scott-halo-movie-works This turned out to be Halo: Nightfall.
===Rating===
In an interview, Peter Jackson discussed how the studio would have most likely wanted the movie to be rated PG-13, even though the game itself is rated Mature, this may be because the content of the game (Blood, Mild Language, Violence) is what would count as a PG-13 movie. However, there was the possibility that there would be an uncut version of the movie for the "killtacular" fans.
==Others==
There are also a variety of Halo props built by WETA Workshop. Even though they were made for the Halo: Landfall short films and not for the actual film, they give a good indication of the quality the eventual film may have been or may yet have.
Writer Stuart Beattie has also been rumored to have written the script for Spy Hunter and confirmed to have penned the script for the G.I. Joe movie. He was also involved in writing the Gears of War movie script. Beattie also drew up five concept art pieces for the Halo: Fall of Reach movie.
In the Hellboy 2 movie DVD Commentary at 38:41, Guillermo del Toro says he did a design of Master Chief for the Halo movie. He describes Master Chief's helmet as being sleek and self-concealed.Hellboy II: The Golden Army film (2008). At 38:34 "The design of the mouth of Johann, I'm very proud of it. We designed it. I originally had done a design for that for the movie Halo, for John-117. It was a very different design, because Master Chief's helmet is very sleek and very self-concealed, but it had the same principles.".
==Gallery==
File:WarthogB110707.jpg|A fully functional (presumably, the turret does not work), drivable Warthog made by WETA Workshop, it was used for Halo: Landfall and may be reused for the full-length feature.
==Links==
===Internal===
*Halo: Arms Race, three short films by the former director, Neill Blomkamp.
===External===
*IMDb Page - Note that information there can be just as fallible as any other wiki.
*A fully functional Warthog has been produced by WETA workshop as part of the Halo: Arms Race short films by Neill Blomkamp.
==Sources==
fr:Le Film d'Halo
Category:Cinematics
Category:Film