Halo Movie May Happen After All

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."

Comments

Red Vs.Blue

[dextroz]

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

I don't know what to say

[udderly]

They are really making a movie out of a video game? I guess that I just don't understand.

Re:I don't know what to say

[NoMoreNicksLeft]

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.

Re:I don't know what to say

[screwballicus]

In case you aren't aware, some of the

great
masterpieces
of the
modern
era

are based on video games.

Re:I don't know what to say

[h4rm0ny]

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.' :)

Re:I don't know what to say

[ElVaquero]

Well, with doing a franchise picture, you already have brand recognizability and several million guaranteed audience members.

Re:I don't know what to say

[h4rm0ny]

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!!!!"

Re:I don't know what to say

[ScrewMaster]

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.

an educated guess

[DualG5GUNZ]

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

Re:an educated guess

[the_weasel]

Don't bet on it.

Outside of Pixar, the actual use of Mac's for animation and effects is still a very small minority.

Quality Control?

[alvinrod]

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.

Re:Quality Control?

[zr-rifle]

> 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...

Re:First,.

[RealityMogul]

I'm sure it will be just as good as the game scripts.

Box office revenue vs profit

[magarity]

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...?

[TheCamper]

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.

Re:At long last last...?

[ruiner13]

"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.

Let's just hope...

[Spoing]

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

Good Negotiating Tactics

[MBraynard]

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.

Halo Bible?

[thundar2000]

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...

If they know what's good for them...

[mbrother]

...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.

I bet this will get 3 standing ovations at Cannes

[carcosa30]

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.

Plot spoiler....

[ProppaT]

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