Remember last week when 20th Century Fox and Universal decided to pull out of making a Halo movie and Microsoft and Bungie's reaction was to go "Woo hoo – without Hollywood interfering we're gonna make the best film ever"?
Yeah, things didn't go exactly to plan. In fact, following the Hollywood studios' decision to not make a Halo movie any more, the wheels have well and truly come off Halo. Now Halo's executive producer Peter Jackson has announced that – since there's no money to make it with any more – he's officially postponing the Halo movie, at least until he can find a way to convince people that watching a man with a cardboard box on his head running around a playing field shooting a puppy with a second-hand Nerf gun and shouting "Die treacherous Covenant scum, die!" while being filmed on a 1980s VHS camcorder is a worthy way of spending their money.
The Halo movie was meant to be the moment where videogame movies transcended their influences and became genuinely successful, critically-acclaimed pieces of cinema in their own right. Up until now, videogame movies had either relied on flashes of Milla Jovovich's quim or lengthy scenes of aliens exploding over lovely Rosamund Pike for success, but the Halo movie was going to put an end to all that.
When Microsoft first announced the Halo movie, it already had a script from rising star Alex Garland and the financial backing of 20th Century Fox and Universal. Then came the really big name – Peter Jackson signed on to executive produce the Halo movie. From then on it looked as of nothing could go wrong for Halo, and the bloke from the annoying dancing car adverts was even brought in as the director. Just as it looked as if everything as set to go, the Hollywood studios kicked Halo in the arse – 20th Century Fox and Universal withdrew their cash from the project. And now Halo has taken another knock – Peter Jackson has now formally postponed the Halo movie. A statement by Microsoft said:
"At this time Microsoft, Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh have mutually agreed to postpone making a feature film based on the Halo video game. While it will undoubtedly take a little longer for Halo to reach the big screen, we are confident that the final feature film will be well worth the wait."
Of course, Peter Jackson won't be too phased by the shelving of Halo – he's got the Dambusters remake to executive produce and a film about some dragony nonsense to direct too. But what we want to know is where all the unbridled optimism from last week disappeared to? You'll remember that a week ago Halo makers Bungie said:
"The reality here at Bungie towers is a feeling of optimism, satisfaction and happiness… Peter, Neill, Fran and Microsoft are as excited and dedicated as ever and WETA continues the pre-production process. Actually, when you do finally get to see the stuff WETA has already made, you will probably pee a little."
And who's to say that Bungie is wrong? In fact, we're fully expecting to pee a little when we finally get to see the Halo movie – but that's mainly because by then the ravages of old age will have rendered us completely incontinent.
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Patrick F. says
If you make a movie. Well, think about it!!!
You think it takes too much money, well think about all the money that
you will make. not only here but also in Japan.
people from all ages will attend to your debut.
Me* says
I really think that the Halo movie will be great*… I would definetely go see it*