![]() ![]() ![]() While the addition of Josh Olson to the writing team appeared to be Microsoft’s attempt to salvage the project (Olsen having been nominated for an Academy Award for A History of Violence just a few months prior), it ultimately made no difference. ![]() about reviving the project, the film found itself placed under the dreaded title of "indefinite hold," a fancy way of saying it isn’t happening. In the end, both studios pulled out, and while discussions were held with MGM and Warner Bros. Universal and Fox were unhappy with the large chunk of the profit Jackson and Microsoft would be taking, and the proposed $128 million budget was a hefty price tag for a property that was still largely unknown outside of the gaming world. All indications signaled that the Halo film was just a stone’s throw away.ĭespite a finished script and pre-production having already started, the project began to stall in October 2006. Paul Bertone, lead designer on Halo 2, recalled a meeting with Jackson that involved taking a drive in a fully functioning life-sized Warthog (the signature vehicle from the games) that Wētā had built. It didn’t take long for work to commence. Jackson’s involvement also brought on board Fran Walsh, his long-time producing partner, along with Wētā Workshop, the special effects company that had earned high acclaim for their work on The Lord of the Rings. His remake of King Kong was only a few weeks away, and with rumors of a The Hobbitadaptation on the horizon, the ability for Microsoft to attract one of the biggest names in Hollywood was something that would get even a non- Halo fan interested. Keep in mind, this was 2005, and the success of his The Lord of the Rings trilogy was still fresh in everyone’s mind. Soon after, Peter Jackson’s involvement was revealed, an announcement that sent the gaming world into a rapturous frenzy. Ultimately, only two studios found those terms amenable, 20th Century Fox and Universal Pictures, but a finished product was still a long way away.Īfter the studios agreed to produce the film, work started on assembling a crew. Reportedly, the script's plot stuck close to what had been depicted in the games, and while Microsoft’s desire to avoid the failures of previous video game adaptations is an admirable one, their determination for creative control despite never having produced a film before is something few studios would agree to. The decision for Microsoft to create its own script rather than just licensing the franchise to a studio and letting them develop the story was an unusual one, and would prove to both help and hinder the project. Garland, who had achieved great success with his novel The Beach and his screenplay 28 Days Later (both of which had received feature film adaptations from Danny Boyle), seemed a natural fit for the high-concept world of Halo thanks to his background in science fiction, and his involvement prompted speculation that the zombielike creatures, the Flood (a recurring antagonist across the games), would make an appearance. Clearly, Microsoft had hoped success in one medium would translate to another, and hired Alex Garland to pen the script. The project was announced in 2005 just one year after the release of Halo 2, a game that had smashed sales records to become the best-selling game on the first generation Xbox. When combined with its blockbuster sensibilities and expansive universe, it’s no surprise rumors of a live-action film began to emerge. The games were originally developed by Bungie before the baton was passed to 343 Industries in 2011, and their enormous success (coupled with various tie-in materials such as novels and comic books) has led it to become one of the highest-grossing franchises in the entertainment business. This conflict causes him to cross paths with the titular Halo Array, a colossal ringlike superweapon capable of destroying all sentient life in the galaxy. It followed the exploits of Master Chief, a super soldier raised from birth for combat, and who helps defend humanity from a collective of alien races called the Covenant who are waging a twenty-year war against the human race. Halo first emerged in 2001 with Halo: Combat Evolved, a game that would lay the groundwork for the next generation of gaming. RELATED: 'Halo' Season 1 Ending Explained: What Happened to Makee and the Master Chief?īut first, a quick history lesson. ![]()
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