Rumor: Guillermo Del Toro in talks to direct Halo movie

by Ross Miller { Dec 2nd 2005 at 3:45PM }

The new rumor comes via a King Kong press junket, where supposedly it was learned that Guillermo Del Toro is in negotiations with Peter Jackson to direct the Halo movie. There is currently no confirmation, but Del Toro does seem like a logical choice. Jackson has shown affection for talented-yet-underrated people (choosing Michel Ancel, for example, to make the King Kong video game).

If Del Toro does sign to direct Halo, what is to become of Hellboy 2? As IESB reports, Hellboy 2's first draft script has just been turned into the studio for review. Would the sequel be delayed, canned, or given to another director?

[via Game Cloud]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

TK00 @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM

I'm not sure about this Halo movie thing; Halo is so popular due to great multiplayer, not the storyline.

Cold @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM

Pan's Labyrinth (El Laberinto de Fauno) (2005)
Hellboy (2004)
Blade II (2002)
The Devil's Backbone (El Espinazo del Diablo) (2001)
Mimic (1997)
Cronos (La Invencion de Cronos) (1993)

Meh..

Jason E. Rist @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM

In my humble opinion Hellboy is more important, but that's based on the fact that gaming movies typically suck hard (no thanks to Uwe Boll).

LordGavin @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM

is it just me or does that guy look like michael moore?

mike phillips @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM

Ron Perlman aint getting any younger. I absolutely love Hellboy. I sure hope that this microsoft "vanity" project will not ursurp such an original property like Hellboy. Ideally I would love Del Toro do both films as I am sure they both would be great, but if a there is a choice to be made it must absolutely be Hellboy 2!

hebrewhammer @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM

peter jackson has an affliction towards talented people eh? maybe thats an affection for?

Chiablo @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM

The only way the Halo movie will not suck is if Joss Whedon were to direct it.

DJCarbon43 @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM

affliction...roflmao

Marcelo Vega @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM

NO, GOD NOOOOOOOOO!!!

Halo needs an AAA Director...IF they want it to live up to the game...

Chris_C @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM

Could be a genius decision. Del Toro is a very passionate film maker, and so is Jackson. It would be the biggest geek collaboaration since Spielberg and Lucas got together for the Jones', or Donner and Spielberg for The Goonies, or Zemeckis and Spielberg got together for the BTTF's... Spielberg is a geek.

Rob X @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM

Awesome. Perfect choice as he is very experienced in SFX heavy movies, is very respectful to the source material in his adaptations, is a great genre director (Mimic was the studio's fault). The revelation of The Flood will be as creepy as it was in the game.

Jon @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM

"Halo needs an AAA Director...IF they want it to live up to the game..."

Just remember that before Lord of the Rings, Peter Jackson was definately not considered a AAA director. He had only made 2 or 3 B movie horror flicks.

I don't know if you guys know the role of an executive producer, but he is the boss. If he hires whatever director, that director will be hired to deliver and producers will choose a director that is best fit for the genre. I'm sure Peter Jackson as the producer will have plenty of creative input (as he is the boss). I trust his creativity and can't wait to see what he and his team come up with on this film.

I also can't wait to see King Kong. Previews look great. Maybe we'll have a balrog as an unlockable charachter in Halo 3 multiplayer as a result of this collaboration.

JollyGreenGiant @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM

Not true #1. I've never played Halo multi-player and I love the game. The story absolutely sold it for me.

Merus @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM

Jackson also made Heavenly Creatures and The Frighteners. They're not exactly B movies, but they weren't AAA either.

#7: Joss Whedon is a television director. It was sort of obvious that he's a television director from Serenity, so I'd expect that the Halo movie probably would suck if Joss Whedon was attached. I think they're going for a completely different feel.

Ross Miller @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM

affliction - hah, i r t3h dumbz0rs, i suppose. fixed.

Ryuukuro @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM

If Guillermo directs Halo the way he does his Spanish language films then it will be awesome. But if he does it the way he does his American films then...maybe. Hellboy was decent but it needed some story work and fewer characters. And Blade II was a Blade movie so it had to be bad.

But Guillermo Del Toro and Peter Jackson together? More power to the fat geeks.

Rare Hare @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM

well, Hellboy sucked, but i'm not excited about the Halo movie anyway, so what do i care?

my main concern is about X-Men 3..

Paranoised @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM

He looks evil...

James @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM

Who would be a AAA director?

Ridley Scott?
Steven Spielberg?
James Cameron?

Are we talking about quality director or directors that can generate big box offices?

How about David Fincher? I would definitely not call George Lucas a good director nor a good writer. And what about Kevin Smith? Just because KS has a good following, doesn't mean he's a good director or can bring box office smashes.

Master X 24 @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM

The halo will NOT SUCK for the following reasons
#1 Peter Jackson
#2 Microsoft and Bungie would not let there best game suck as a movie cause that could halo 3
#3 MS and Bungie has input so they will be helping
#4 Peter Jackson

Scott @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM

"The halo will NOT SUCK for the following reasons
#1 Peter Jackson
#2 Microsoft and Bungie would not let there best game suck as a movie cause that could halo 3
#3 MS and Bungie has input so they will be helping
#4 Peter Jackson"

I played a lot of Halo in my day, and those types of comments make me sick. Gives Xbox Fans a bad name. Sounds like it was written by a five year old.

Colin @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM

A film doesn't have to "suck" to be bad, it just has to fit preferences that are not yours...
I have a feeling Halo will be good, but could also be a flop (doubtful)...
#21 Scott, what he said was nothing more than the truth, with talent like Jackson and Bungie firmly holding the reigns, it probably wont "suck"...

IanC @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM

Oh i hope this isnt true. Id take Hellboy 2 over Halo anyday.....

C. Grant @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM

The decision seems masterful; if anyone were to direct Halo, why not the closest thing to Peter Jackson that isn't Peter Jackson. A history of B horror movies, and the unique ability to trancend that (see Devil's Backbone and Heavenly Creatures). Color me impressed.