Bungie optimistic about Halo movie's future

I do agree that the movie should be made considering the high amount of rubbish that passes on for movies these days. That said, its perfectly reasonable that Fox and Universal backed off. Its unfair for Bungie to complain simply cos it aint their money. If Bungie was so concerned about Fox and Universal not trusting the creative team, why not get Microsoft to put the money in. If Microsoft or Bungie doesnt trust the movie to give them the returns they expect from it, why blame Fox or Universal.

I just hope this happens fast. I'd like to see this movie sometime in the near future.

I was most interested when they brought the rookie director in. It seemed an interesting choice, and honestly, you don't bring in a first-timer on a project like this for no reason. On the other hand, you don't want a director who is going to overshadow the project with his own creative vision. That's what good movies-based-on-anything avoid.
It was what made Peter Jackson's "J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings" so great and "Peter Jackson's King Kong" a bit lackluster, despite the cool moments.

--Branewalker

Halo as a movie will be just as bad as Doom was. Only with Doom, there was at least some potential with its story.

Ah, can't wait to see the most overrated game of all time become the most overrated movie of all time.

P.S. Bungie - I used to love you guys, back in the pre-Microsoft days...

Halo is great!!! Want to see the sequel!

Under the terms of the agreement, this movie would have to gross 250-300 million for it to be worthwhile. Even then, the **potential** profits would be split up so many ways (including by the studios) thats it hardly worth the financial risk... which is entirely on the backs of the studios since MS aint chipping in for that.

If MS is so convinced that this movie will succeed **financially** then they should finance at least some of the costs of producing the movie. Otherwise, they should stfu; they have no business telling the studios how to run their business.

Have we all not been complaining that games that are made into movies are CRAP? Well, can you blame MS/Bungie for wanting some control over the project in order for the true Halo to be seen by all. It's only when the Studios get their hands on the project; is when a game that becomes a movie is TRASH.

I'm with The1. We all complain about video game movies being horrific. Well, this might be the IP's owners trying to make sure that doesn't happen. Who's to say that Fox (thank God they're gone)or Universal weren't trying to change something critical to the Halo Universe in an attempt to make the movie "more marketable"? And, if history serves correct, these "more marketable" changes usually make the movie unbearable for gamers and non-gamers alike

But the1 the problem is, if MS/Bungie want so much control and what not... they should pony up some cash and not expect the studios to take ALL the financial burden.

Where's the point in that? PAYING somoene to make a Movie for THEM so that THEY can get a profit and not pay for anything?

Yeah where do i sign up to be a 200mil charity case?

if they want people to have a TRUE halo experience... why doesn't MS pay for it? Unless they know the story doesn't have much meat there to actually make a movie out of it.

They should show a trailer of the better footage they might have already filmed as a trailer and see if the fans will get behind it.

Videogame movies don't have to be horrific, but the ideas motivating them can be. I remember upon hearing the announcement of the DoA movie the first thing that came to mind was that they are going to do CGI bras and other crap.

On the other hand, something like Super Mario Bros. was bad for 'brand-recognition' but distinct and too different to immediately hate. :P

Just have Samus from Metroid do it with MC. I'd watch, just to see how they would get around the suit thing.

Whats interesting is that Universal and Microsoft seemed to be chums up until this point, thanks in large to HD-DVD. I guess money is always the deciding factor.

I was thinking about this when i heard it and wondering who else is left and will be willing enough to gamble 200 million on it(although it might not be such a huge uncalculated risk its still a gamble). If two Studios had to partner up to take it up who else will be able to put in the dough. Firstly there is Disney who we can without a doubt scrap off, considering they are cutting down in this area and it is in no way up their alley. Next up is Paramount, now while they maybe huge they are in no way willing to fork out that much going it alone, most of there big blockbusters have been in partnership with someone else. Then comes Sony, while they have the finances i think the chances of this happening would be about the same as Bungie giving PS3 exclusive rights to the Halo franchise. To me the only viable option is Warner Bros, they are large enough, have the money/resources and are the ones most willing to gamble on this.

Did i forget anyone? What is everyone elses take on this?

I find it interesting that Microsoft insists that 200 million-plus is a sound investment, but hasn't and doesn't seem very interested in ponying up the dough themselves.

As a rule of thumb, films need to gross twice their budget to be profitable for the studio. Factor in the likely 50 million dollar marketing budget, and you're looking at a film that needs to make over 500 million dollars. The track record for non-Star Wars sci-fi films has been horrendous in the past decade, and throw in a rookie director and a video-game IP, and you've got the makings of a disaster here.

So yeah, it's not surprising that MS wants someone else to stick their neck out. But the fact that they couldn't get a single studio to shoulder the burden alone before makes me think they won't sucker anyone this time.

The Halo breakup had to do with Universal saying they were going to cancel project unless cortana was made a real person that traveled with Master Cheif and would be played by Jennifer Aniston. The Staff said FU Pete Jackson and Director said FU and they pulled plug.

maybe sony pictures will pick it up?

As long as the movie is released before I die, I'm happy. In the meantime, there's the Transformers, GhostRider, and Jurassic Park 4 movies to worry about.

In short, I agree with #12.

@ John

After I wiped the tears of laughter from eyes, the answer occured to me: Morph Ball mode.

On a serious note, I think it's cool that Bungie's retaining so much control of the project. On the one hand, it's going to delay production of the movie for sure, but it's also going to give a bit of a quality safety-net.

In regards to profits.. the game has sold 7Mil as of 2005, as a generous assessment, let's say it's now up to 9mil. Assuming everyone who bought the game goes to see it, that would be less than 90 million in sales. Even assume that some people brought a non-game-owning friend, and some see it twice, 180 million. Given that it was supposed to have a 200 Million dollar budget.. does it even make sense?

I know nothing of how the financial system of movies works, and would gladly take any (certain) critcizms to my gorilla math.

To the folks suggesting that MS put up the money instead of a studio, it bears remembering that Microsoft is not a movie studio. They have no experience and no facilities for producing, marketing or distributing a major motion picture. And it's not like MS could just pay a studio to do all of that for them. The studio would much rather have the higher risk / higher reward that comes with making the movie themselves. That's what studios do.

I also applaud Bungie for sticking to their guns with their intellectual property. id didn't do that and look what happened. Doom didn't have much plot to begin with and by the time the studios were finished with it, what did we get? No gateway to hell, no demons and they're not even on Mars. So what happens if Bungie lets the studio "leverage market proven assets"? Will we get Jennifer Aniston as Cortana being dragged around by a shirtless Masterchief played by the Rock? If that's our choice I'd rather the movie not get made at all. Sounds like that's Bungie's opinion too. Bravo.