Halo film

Rumors of a Halo movie had been heard for a while, but in 2005 it was officially confirmed by Bungie. While the movie was intended to be handled by 20th Century Fox and Universal Pictures, they have both since pulled out of the deal. It would have been a live-action flick, but with a heavy amount of CGI. Wingnut Films, the team behind Lord of the Rings and King Kong, was working on the movie. However, in October 2006 the movie was postponed indefinitely until new distributors can be found (see timeline below for more details).

Halowood
Joseph Staten mentioned that following seeing 28 Days Later: ''"If we ever make a Halo movie, who would you want to write it?" I asked Marty as we exited the theater, "I bet that Garland guy would be all over the Flood."'' Because Alex Garland is indeed the writer, it is reasonable to expect Flood. Staten also guaranteed that there will be Grunts.

Peter Jackson, a Halo game fan, was confirmed as executive producer for the film. While it was assumed that he would also direct, the announcement of Neill Blomkamp as director proved that speculation false. Jackson said he was tired after spending so much time on King Kong, and that Halo would have been a break.

Blomkamp is an acclaimed director of short films and commercials. He has also won Clios and a Visual Effects Society Award, and was nominated for an Emmy for his work on James Cameron's TV series Dark Angel.

Script
A website called Latino Review has posted a script review of the upcoming Halo movie; Rampancy.net asserts that it's credible. However, Bungie has said the story is not yet complete.

Crew
Director....Neill Blomkamp Producer....Peter Schlessel Executive Producer....Peter Jackson Screenplay Writers....Alex Garland(First Draft) & D.B. Weiss(Revisions)

Timeline

 * Summer of 2002 - With the success of Halo CE, Hollywood producers voice interest about making a Halo movie. Concerns over creative control sink the idea, "thanks but no thanks" said Joseph Staten
 * 2004 before Halo 2 launch - A Hollywood player, Peter Schlessel starts to meet with Bungie staff to discuss movie plans. He proposes that instead of leaving it up to Hollywood, "Finance the script yourselves, Hire a writer, have him write something you love, then bring it to Hollywood with a simple message: ‘This is the movie we want to make. Who wants to make it with us?'".   On the list of Schlessel  approved writers is Alex Garland who Bungie pick for reasons listed in above article.
 * June 2005 - Fox and Universal Studios announce their financial backing for the Halo project.
 * Oct 4, 2005 - Peter Jackson and collaborator Fran Walsh join the project as executive producers.
 * Aug, 2006 - Neill Blomkamp is picked by Jackson as the director of the Halo movie.
 * October 20, 2006 - Universal and Fox Pull out of deal. Universal, on behalf of both studios, asked for a meeting with the filmmakers just prior to the due date of a significant payment. Basically, they said that in order to move forward with the film, the filmmakers had to significantly reduce [the percentage of profits they would receive from the film]. 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. The project lives on and Peter Jackson's Weta Workshop is continuing to work on the film while Microsoft locks down another partner.
 * October 31, 2006 - Producers Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh, along with Microsoft, are putting the much-anticipated Halo movie on ice. Following recent reports that development of the film would continue in spite of studio backers Fox and Universal dropping out, a press release being distributed by Jackson's WingNut Films today confirms that Halo is being indefinitely postponed. Here's their statement regarding the film, sure to be greeted with howls of discontent by fans:
 * "As was previously confirmed, we deeply regret that both Universal and Fox did not choose to move forward with financing the Halo film under the original terms of the agreement. At this time Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh, along with their partner, Microsoft, have mutually agreed to postpone making a feature film based on the Halo video game universe until we can fulfill the promise we made to millions of Halo fans throughout the world that we would settle for no less than bringing a first class film to the big screen. We are fully supportive of Director Neill Blomkamp's vision of the film. Neill is a tremendously gifted filmmaker and his preliminary work on Halo is truly awe-inspiring. 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."

Development
On February 3, 2005, Creative Artists Agency confirmed that Microsoft had completed a million-dollar deal with Alex Garland to write a screenplay based on the video game series Halo, which would then be offered to studios. Microsoft released Garland's completed screenplay to various Hollywood studios on June 7, 2005, looking to be paid a $10 million fee as well as the studio's agreement to adhere to guidelines set by the game's developers. Microsoft also wanted the studio to seek approval over the director and cast. In addition, Microsoft sought full merchandising rights for itself, a minimum $75 million budget, and company representatives' full access to the film's rough cuts in Los Angeles. Studios like Paramount, DreamWorks, Sony, and Warner Bros. did not want to cede creative rights to the film and passed over the project. A few days later, 20th Century Fox and Universal Studios entered negotiations with Microsoft to divide Halo's distribution rights. The original $10 million deal was reduced based on the studios' negative response to the exorbitant price tag. In the negotiations, Universal gained rights to release the film in North America, where Fox would distribute the film overseas. On August 22, 2005, Microsoft's deal with the studios was announced to be finalized, with summer 2008 as the target release date.

Screenplay
On July 13, 2006, author D.B. Weiss revealed in an interview that he was writing the screenplay for Halo. At the time of the interview, Weiss said that he was working on his second draft of the new script, which contained elements of the project's original screenplay by Alex Garland.

In late October, 2006, Variety magazine reported that screenwriter Josh Olson (A History of Violence) was working on the latest rewrite.

Pre-production
On October 4, 2005, Bungie Studios announced that director Peter Jackson was signed onto the project as an executive producer. The following year, on August 10, 2006, Universal Pictures announced that Neill Blomkamp was attached to helm the project, where he would make his directorial debut. The Weta Workshop and Weta Digital film effects companies were also announced to be responsible for handling Halo's effects. The film will be shot in Wellington, New Zealand and is slated for a summer 2008 release. To keep the film's producers true to the Halo Universe, Bungie prepared an exhaustive encyclopedia known to some as either the "Halo Compendium" or the "Halo Story Bible", describing nearly every topic in the Halo games and novels including graphics of characters, species and vessels.

Studio backout
On October 19, 2006, both Universal and Fox studios, who had agreed to co-finance the screen adaptation of the popular Microsoft game abruptly backed out of the picture, leaving rumors floating that the budget may be rising above the projected $135 million. Microsoft attempted to secure financing from other studios, including Warner Bros and Paramount, to keep the project moving, but production was officially halted and postponed on 31 October 2006 until additional backing could be found.

Rating
In an interview with Peter Jackson it was discussed that the aim most likely to be set by the studio would be PG-13 or higher, although discussions have been planned on the possibility of an R version for the "hardcore" fans. The game itself is rated Mature.

Teaser Trailer
A teaser trailer will be included on the Halo 3 Legendary 4-Disc Edition.

Trivia

 * Weta Studios created a fully functional, four wheel turning M12 LRV Warthog for the movie.