You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here
Fox and Universal have agreed a deal with Microsoft over the rights and script for the Halo movie. They will pay Microsoft $5 million against 10% of the movie’s gross. The Fox, Universal partnership will see Universal handling the production and US distribution, while Fox will handle foreign distribution. They will split revenues 50/50.
Peter Schlessel is producing, while the script has been written by Alex Garland, most famous for writing ’28 Days Later’. Garland was paid $1 million to pen the script and will now make alterations based on studio notes.
Back in June Microsoft sent a fully kitted out Master Chief to the major film studios to deliver the script in person. They had initially been holding out for $10 million against 15% of the movie’s gross and extensive creative control. Microsoft’s exact involvement in the project is now said to be on a consultation basis, but they don’t have approval over any element. A number of Bungie employees (the development studio responsible for the Halo franchise) will act as creative consultants.
“Our conversations in the last few weeks focused on the level of collaboration needed to bring this complex property to life,” said Peter Moore, marketing and publishing VP for Microsoft’s Xbox videogame unit. “Ultimately, Universal is the expert responsible for making a powerfully commercial movie palatable to our demo.”
It is thought that Microsoft may try and launch a Halo videogame to coincide with the movie’s release, but this would make the series’ debut on the Xbox 360 somewhat later than fans had hoped, assuming that Halo 3 is the game in question. We’ll bring you more news on the Halo movie as soon as we hear more. With the release set for summer 2007, it might be a long wait.
About the Author
