Halo Movie May Happen After All

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Halo Movie May Happen After All

Posted by timothy on Sunday June 12, 2005 @05:50AM from the you-must-care-about-this dept.

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."

39 of 234 comments (clear)

Red Vs.Blue by dextroz · 2005-06-12 05:52 · Score: 5, Funny

They could just rehash the Red Vs Blue videos in high quality and 5.1 and it would be hilarious all over again!

--
Where's my free iPod!? Until then, I'll settle for a kiss...
1. Re:Red Vs.Blue by MsGeek · 2005-06-12 06:53 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  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.
  
  --
  Knowledge is power. Knowledge shared is power multiplied.
I don't know what to say by udderly · 2005-06-12 05:53 · Score: 3, Funny

They are really making a movie out of a video game? I guess that I just don't understand.
1. Re:I don't know what to say by NoMoreNicksLeft · 2005-06-12 05:56 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  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.
2. Re:I don't know what to say by screwballicus · 2005-06-12 06:01 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  In case you aren't aware, some of the
  
  great
  masterpieces
  of the
  modern
  era
  
  are based on video games.
3. Re:I don't know what to say by h4rm0ny · 2005-06-12 06:01 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  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.' :)
  
  --
  
  Aide-toi, le Ciel t'aidera - Jeanne D'Arc.
4. Re:I don't know what to say by ElVaquero · 2005-06-12 06:04 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Well, with doing a franchise picture, you already have brand recognizability and several million guaranteed audience members.
5. Re:I don't know what to say by h4rm0ny · 2005-06-12 06:10 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  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!!!!"
  
  --
  
  Aide-toi, le Ciel t'aidera - Jeanne D'Arc.
6. Re:I don't know what to say by ScrewMaster · 2005-06-12 06:40 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  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.
  
  --
  The higher the technology, the sharper that two-edged sword.
7. Re:I don't know what to say by randallschleufer · 2005-06-12 07:05 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  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?
8. Re:I don't know what to say by Flunitrazepam · 2005-06-12 09:09 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Your forgetting the 20 billion domestic take of Pacman, staring Jeremy Irons as Blinky
  
  --
  1) Your analysis is based on bad assumptions so your result is way off. 2) You're a sick bastard for fucking a horse.
9. Re:I don't know what to say by Jasin+Natael · 2005-06-12 09:25 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  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 some outrage over linking the Asimov name with the film. But as it stands, it wasn't really bad publicity for one of your favorite authors, just someone making a good movie and playing fast-and-loose with the words "based on".
  
  Now, if you're upset that this precludes a real I, Robot movie that is actually based on the book, I'll join you in that sentiment. But, given how many younger sci-fi fans have yet to read Asimov's books, and that the movie was probably positive in a mindshare context for most people, I'll contend that it wasn't such a dumb move after all.
  
  On Topic: Video Game movies are not in the same bucket. You can't add to a video game's experience, you can only take away. What games lack in storyline depth or emotional context, they make up for with engaging gameplay and (often) social gaming aspects. Game scenarios don't work well for tacking on drama or subterfuge, and so they don't work well on the big screen. Period. Hollywood, can you prove me wrong?
  Jasin Natael
  
  --
  True science means that when you re-evaluate the evidence, you re-evaluate your faith.
10. Re:I don't know what to say by C0rinthian · 2005-06-12 10:17 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  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 Bungie has backing these game up.
11. Re:I don't know what to say by Hognoxious · 2005-06-13 02:49 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Well, with dealing drugs, you already have brand recognizability and several million confirmed addicts.
  
  --
  Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
an educated guess by DualG5GUNZ · 2005-06-12 05:55 · Score: 5, Funny

The irony of this movie is that all the graphics work will be done on Macs.

--
"I'm a philosophy major. That means I can think deep thoughts about being unemployed." -- Bruce Lee
1. Re:an educated guess by the_weasel · 2005-06-12 05:58 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  Don't bet on it.
  
  Outside of Pixar, the actual use of Mac's for animation and effects is still a very small minority.
  
  --
  - sarcasm is just one more service we offer -
2. Re:an educated guess by rogue555 · 2005-06-12 06:18 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  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."
  
  --
  "That's not ironic, it's just mean!" - Bender
Quality Control? by alvinrod · 2005-06-12 05:59 · Score: 5, Interesting

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.
1. Re:Quality Control? by zr-rifle · 2005-06-12 06:06 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  > 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...
  
  --
  Hack your mind out of its sandbox.
2. Re:Quality Control? by Spy+Hunter · 2005-06-12 07:27 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  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/
  
  Best thing about Alex, apart from his ability to type awesomeness, is that he's actually a Halo fan, and he really, really gets it.
  
  link
  So they've got a script written by a Halo fan who also happens to be an accomplished Hollywood screenwriter, and Bungie likes it. Sounds like they could be on the right track. I'm not familiar with Alex Garland's work myself.
  
  --
  main(c,r){for(r=32;r;) printf(++c>31?c=!r--,"\n":c<r?" ":~c&r?" `":" #");}
3. Re:Quality Control? by mikael · 2005-06-12 08:09 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  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 effects/actors they wouldn't work. And if you do try and add these elements, they would alienate the fans of the original game.
  
  If you were to try and convert 'nethack' into a movie, you already have the hero (the player), the sidekick (pet cat/dog), the nemesis (Wizard of Yendor), the mentor (the quest level), first failure (not having enough experience levels).
  The victory is a bit tricky since the Wizard of Yendor can keep coming back, and you would need a princess level for the "woman of desire" part, and I'm not sure how exactly you could compress exploring 20 levels of mazes and killing thousands of wild creatures into a 90 minute movie, apart from just using the distinctive levels (Asmodeus, Jubilex, the abandoned shops, and the elemental/spiritual planes). But the happy ending would be offering the Amulet of Yendor at the correct location.
  
  --
  Vintage computer adverts: http://www.vintageadbrowser.com/computers-and-software-ads
It's not going to be that hard/new. by ian+rogers · 2005-06-12 06:00 · Score: 2, Funny

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.
Re:First,. by RealityMogul · 2005-06-12 06:03 · Score: 3, Funny

I'm sure it will be just as good as the game scripts.
Box office revenue vs profit by magarity · 2005-06-12 06:03 · Score: 4, Informative

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.
At long last last...? by TheCamper · 2005-06-12 06:07 · Score: 5, Insightful

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.
1. Re:At long last last...? by ruiner13 · 2005-06-12 07:06 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  "fps don't belong on consoles"
  I dunno, if they are done right they can be killer. Goldeneye and Perfect Dark on the N64 come to mind. These games absolutely rocked.
  
  --
  today is spelling optional day.
Let's just hope... by Spoing · 2005-06-12 06:09 · Score: 3, Funny

...it's as good as Wing Commander. [leaps into flame-proof bunker]

--
A firewall can not protect you from yourself. Turn off what you do not need. Do not use the firewall to do your work.
Good Negotiating Tactics by MBraynard · 2005-06-12 06:16 · Score: 5, Informative
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.
Tomb raider and Resident Evil by zymano · 2005-06-12 06:24 · Score: 2, Funny

Should have won oscars.

I predict Halo will be bigger than Star Wars.
Halo Bible? by thundar2000 · 2005-06-12 06:42 · Score: 4, Insightful

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... by Razzak · 2005-06-12 06:42 · Score: 2, Informative

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/
If they know what's good for them... by mbrother · 2005-06-12 06:59 · Score: 3, Interesting

...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.

--
Professor of Astronomy, Author of Spider Star & Star Dragon (Tor)
I bet this will get 3 standing ovations at Cannes by carcosa30 · 2005-06-12 07:29 · Score: 5, Funny

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.

--
Intolerance for ambiguity is the mark of the authoritarian personality.
We know what Microsoft is REALLY up to! by mister_llah · 2005-06-12 07:46 · Score: 2, Funny

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?

--
MoM++ - A Classic Expanded - [Master of Magic 1.5]
http://mompp.sourceforge.net/
Plot spoiler.... by ProppaT · 2005-06-12 09:39 · Score: 4, Funny

Master Chief realizes that Master Chief isn't a rank in the marines. The end.

--
Wise men say, "Forgiveness is divine, but never pay full price for late pizza."
1. Re:Plot spoiler.... by Matrix5353 · 2005-06-12 09:46 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  And right after that, you realize that the Master Chief wasn't a marine. He was a NCO, a petty officer. Master chief is the highest rank an enlisted man can reach in the Navy, and it's an important position of leadership. Next time, you might want to do your research, which you can here.
2. Re:Plot spoiler.... by Spy+Hunter · 2005-06-12 15:18 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  It's also a rank in the Coast Guard. However the point is moot, because after they invent 7-foot-tall genetically-engineered cybernetic supersoldiers in energy-shielded battle suits made of technology left behind by a long-lost ancient alien civilization, I imagine they will get their own rank. (Q: What rank do you give a Spartan? A: Whichever one he wants.)
  
  --
  main(c,r){for(r=32;r;) printf(++c>31?c=!r--,"\n":c<r?" ":~c&r?" `":" #");}
Any guesses for director? by zzats · 2005-06-12 10:17 · Score: 2, Funny

My bet goes for Uwe Boll.
Re:dude, shut the fuck up. by thundar2000 · 2005-06-12 11:04 · Score: 2, Insightful

Yeah, Asimov, Clarke, Card... they are all just about shooting aliens.

Anyhoo, point was not being disengenuous about sci fi stories, but more about pointing out that a game like Halo, which is in fact 'a hoot', doesn't really have any story/character whatsoever that people would feel emotionaly involved with... the key to a good yarn, book or movie.

It is just a good game, not very original, but well produced.