Halo film NOT still in production at WETA [update]

by Ross Miller { Oct 30th 2007 at 1:00AM }

Update: The source article cited by 1UP is outdated and concerns the studios' now dashed prospects at the time the Halo film was originally canned. Joystiq regrets the error.

The Halo film is not "entirely dead" as director Neill Blomkamp said earlier this month. In fact, preparation for the movie continues at Peter Jackson's WETA Studios while Microsoft pursues new distribution partners, according to a report in Variety (via 1UP).

Concerning the previous deal that went sour, Ken Kamins, a representative for Jackson and partner Fran Walsh, told Variety that Universal had a meeting on behalf of both studios with the filmmakers just prior to a significant payment due date.

"Basically, [the studios] said that in order to move forward with the film, the filmmakers had to significantly reduce their deals," said Kamins. "They waited until the last minute to have this conversation. Peter and Fran, after speaking with their producing partners and with Microsoft and Bungie, respectfully declined."

"We're very confident this film will move forward with the creative partners intact, who will take the film to production," said Kamins, who also noted that everyone involved is still confident with Blomkamp as the director.

Tags: blompkamp, bungie, halo, microsoft, neill-blompkamp, peter-jackson, universal, variety, weta

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Negativecool @ Oct 30th 2007 1:14PM

Am I the only one that thinks Halo would not translate well into a live action movie, and would instead, completely suck ass? CGI FTW!

Ten Dolla Bill @ Oct 30th 2007 1:18PM

Yes, because video games turned into CGI movies have been so good in the past... Final Fantasy anyone?

xXFenixKnight13Xx @ Oct 30th 2007 1:20PM

Same here, CGI FTW!!!!! I think those Live spots look ok but Ide rather see it in CGI.

umm....hello??? @ Oct 30th 2007 2:16PM

CGI film that rawked:

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children

rv @ Oct 30th 2007 1:14PM

I hope it is more about the forerunners than the Cheif's story. I find the backtstory extremely fascinating.

F. Rocker or Fernando R.? @ Oct 30th 2007 1:28PM

I read last week on the newspaper that in the new live action movie of Dragon Ball Z, Brad Pitt will be Goku.

Hope they are fucking wrong.

dan stabbingworth @ Oct 30th 2007 1:39PM

Live action DBZ?

See the plan is to attract a different audience. How many women will buy tickets if the whole movie is a shirtless Brad Pitt going:

RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
HOOOOOOOOOOOOO
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
CHARGING!!!!

Seraphim @ Oct 30th 2007 1:40PM

They lied, I will be Goku!

dan stabbingworth @ Oct 30th 2007 1:34PM

If it's good, hooray.
If it's bad, I block it from my mind, like the sequels to the Matrix.

FOXHOUND @ Oct 30th 2007 1:34PM

Well, it can't be any worse than Bloodrayne 2, right?

Sloar @ Oct 30th 2007 1:34PM

I just like how in the corner of the windshield in that shot are "notches" of how many elites, grunts, and brutes that warthog has killed.

Eddie @ Oct 30th 2007 1:35PM

Wouldn't it be funny if a studio that only supports bluray put out the Halo movie?

arleigh.sandoc @ Oct 30th 2007 1:49PM

Never will happen since Microsoft will never let Sony be the studio to produce it, or any of Sony's subsidiary film studios. I think this movie will be made in the end. Hollywood studios are not blind to the fact that Halo 3 just blew out of the water any top grossing release numbers a movie ever made. If there's one thing Hollywood is good at is following and jumping on the bandwagon of the next big thing.

FidliousWong @ Oct 30th 2007 1:56PM

The question was never if this movie will make money but rather will this movie recoup the money spent to make it. Keep in mind, Peter Jackson was going to blow past a $100 million dollar budget by at least $110. Even if it's a great film and manages to resonate with the human population (doubtful... this is a scifi grunt story), it's doubtful it will recoup that initial cost.

Slvrgun @ Oct 30th 2007 2:00PM

I think it'll translate well into a trilogy of movies if Peter Jackson's studio is doing it. I mean they made LoTR into a visual masterpiece. Think about it: Spartan program and Fall of Reach; a film containing the backstory on the Flood,Halo, and some of the events of Halo 2; Pick up from the events of Halo 2 and flesh out the Halo 3 Storyline. I think it can be done.