Halo (Fall of Reach)

[Just Jeans]

I've been doing some digging to see if there's been any movement on the Peter Jackson-produced Halo film, and these are the most recent articles I could find.

MS "already in talks" to continue Halo film (http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/levelup/archive/2008/01/15/exclusive-bungie-gives-level-up-insight-into-the-stalled-halo-movie.aspx)

Following a swift withdrawal by film studios Fox and Universal, Microsoft is already in talks with other distribution projects to continue development of the Halo film, says Peter Jackson's representative Ken Kamins.

Prep work on the Halo film continues, Kamins tells Variety, mostly thanks to the involvement of exec producers Jackson and Walsh. Most of the pre-production is being done at their visual effects studios in New Zealand, Weta Digital and Weta Workshop, so there will be no stalling.

Both of the studios who backed the flick abruptly pulled out. Rumours say the studios were concerned over a budget rising above $135 million, but Kamins says disputes came after Fox and Universal tried to lower Microsoft's profit margines.

"What happened was this: Universal, on behalf of both studios, asked for a meeting with the filmmakers just prior to the due date of a significant payment," says Kamins.

"Basically, they said that in order to move forward with the film, the filmmakers had to significantly reduce their deals. 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."

Speculation also centred around the Halo film's newcomer director Neill Blomkamp, who's already filmed several Halo 3 shorts.

"Everybody is supremely confident in Neal," Kamins said. "Part of what excited Peter and Fran was Neal's vision. We're very confident this film will move forward with the creative partners intact, who will take the film to production."

The Halo shorts looked bloody great to us, and who knows; maybe they'll help the Microsoft's flick actually come to life this time. It'd be a shame to waste those real life Warthogs.


Exclusive: And The Winner For Best Supporting Actor Is...As Master Chief? (http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/levelup/archive/2008/01/15/exclusive-bungie-gives-level-up-insight-into-the-stalled-halo-movie.aspx)

I know you can't talk about the movie very much. But on a high sort of level, those same things that you said make Master Chief work for the game--the transparency of the character; the fact that while the character is iconic, he doesn't have a face that you see--did that pose a challenge in the conversations that you were having about how to make something as cinematic as Halo work well as a movie?

Uh-huh.

And do the fans really want to see the face? How do you deal with something like that?

I think what it boiled down to with the film was really a question of "Who is the main character of the movie?" Is it the Master Chief or is it somebody else? And over time I think everybody around the table agreed that the Master Chief is best left as the most important supporting cast member. Where the Master Chief doesn't have a face, but he has a whole body to emote with, whether it's his spine, or his shoulders. or the tilt of his head, or the way he slumps or reloads his weapon. There are these kinesthetic responses that he'll have which will really easily communicate the character and what he's feeling. That's hard to carry as a main character for an entire film. But you can certainly surround him with people who don't have helmets on and you can see their faces. They're normal actors doing their thing.

In the film, the other characters begin to comment on Master Chief's anonymity, like "Who is he?" and "What's his story?" He becomes a really wonderful source of mystery, a sort of anonymous problem solver. So we definitely worked on that. In the final version of the script the Master Chief was certainly absolutely critical to the film, but there were other characters around him which carried most of it, that did most of the emotional heavy lifting. The Master Chief was there in support of their story.

Right.

And that worked out really nicely. The problem with the film had nothing to do with the quality of the story and the ideas that we had. It definitely wasn't that. I'll just leave it there. That was not the problem with the film. We were really happy with the work that got done and we thought it was going to be pretty cool.

The idea of Master Chief as a absolutely essential supporting character sort of makes sense. After all, he's not exactly the life of the party. I'm nearing the end of the first game, and I think in all that time he's had about six lines of dialog.

Who knows if it'll ever get made.

[Biosynthnut v.2]

After watching the short film that Neal did for Halo3.... I don't see why MS just doesn't fund and distribute it themselves, or get WB to back them. Because that ten minute film Neal did was amazing. And I wouldn't mind the MC taking a backseat, he is essential yes, but he doesn't exactly talk much... Even if they were to work off the books...It was more about the UNSC, and other spartans then the MC.

[Scarecrow]

Sounds the perfect way to do it, really. I still have nasty Judge Dredd flashbacks...

- Scarecrow

[Just Jeans]

I just found out that Alex Garland, the guy who wrote 28 Days Later, wrote Halo. I don't know if his draft is the one they were planning on making, but if so it could have been good.

I wonder if they'll let Marty O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori write the score for the film?

[Erik]

Alex Garland's script had been rewritten by the time the movie was shelved, but his draft was supposedly really good. Latino Review had a really favorable review of it: http://www.latinoreview.com/scriptreview.php?id=1

[TheShowstoppa]

My question: Who would play the ominous voice of Master Chief? I'm voting Thomas Jane.

[Just Jeans]

I love Thomas Jane and think he has a good voice for Master Chief, but if Master Chief's helmet is never going to come off, then I say just let Steve Downes do it. He's done a fine job in the games, and I see no reason to fix what ain't broke.

[Scarecrow]

I love Thomas Jane and think he has a good voice for Master Chief, but if Master Chief's helmet is never going to come off, then I say just let Steve Downes do it. He's done a fine job in the games, and I see no reason to fix what ain't broke.

100% agree! Leave star casting for the rest of the cast!


- Scarecrow

[Just Jeans]

Do all the Spartans have identical voices? I ask because the Latino Review script review insinuates that we would see other Spartans in Master Chief's dreams. I've only played the first game, so I'm assuming he's the last of the Spartans? They don't really get into that in the first game.

Anyway, if other Spartans have unique voices, they could get Thomas Jane to play a different Spartan. Or maybe they could cast Jane to play Keyes? I certainly wouldn't mind seeing him in the film.

I also think Cortana should have a completely CGI presence on-screen, and that Jen Taylor should voice her.

[Biosynthnut v.2]

Do all the Spartans have identical voices? I ask because the Latino Review script review insinuates that we would see other Spartans in Master Chief's dreams. I've only played the first game, so I'm assuming he's the last of the Spartans? They don't really get into that in the first game.

Anyway, if other Spartans have unique voices, they could get Thomas Jane to play a different Spartan. Or maybe they could cast Jane to play Keyes? I certainly wouldn't mind seeing him in the film.

I also think Cortana should have a completely CGI presence on-screen, and that Jen Taylor should voice her.

The remaining spartans at the time of the Halo game are: Linda, Tom, Kelly, and another I forget the name. But their are like 5 or 7 left out of the 300 spartans chosen, including John(MC). Think of John as King Leonidas(sp).

I always felt Tommy Lee Jones would be a good Keyes, and Keith David as Sgt.Johnson.

[Cody]

Halo Movie Has Reach (http://www.latinoreview.com/news/exclusive-halo-movie-has-reach-4305)

All has been quiet on the HALO movie front lately. Last we heard, the Halo movie came together with Bungie, Peter Jackson, producer Scott Stuber, Fox, and Universal. The script went through at least three writers. I did the first script review (http://www.latinoreview.com/scriptreview.php?id=1) of Alex Garland’s draft then D.B. Weiss came aboard, and most recently Josh Olson. Neil Blomkampf was hired to direct and did direct several great Halo short films. But then the plug was pulled last summer and the movie has been in a holding pattern ever since.

Till now…

In an effort to get the ball rolling again, I just learned that big time G.I. JOE screenwriter STUART BEATTIE has written a spec screenplay called HALO: FALL OF REACH, and it's based on the best selling novel of the same name by Eric Nylund.

I hear Beattie is a huge Halo fan, and like most Halo fans, has been frustrated at the progress for HALO to reach the silver screen…

…so Stuart took action and did something about it on his own in between writing assignments.

A spec screenplay is when you write a script on your own without being paid a dime for it in the hopes that it could sell hence “spec” or “speculative.”

Stuart is in that top tier of professional screenwriters that get “commissioned” by studios to write scripts. The top screenwriters don’t spec nor need to spec anymore. They get the big money paying gigs. Stuart was commissioned to write SPY HUNTER, SPLINTER CELL, and GEARS OF WAR for various studios. His G.I. JOE script is the one that got Paramount to greenlight the $170 million dollar movie which is shooting now.

HALO: FALL OF REACH is a labor of love by Beattie in the hopes of finally getting the movie made.

So what is the script about? Below is what my source tells me…

The script is, first and foremost, a character-driven story about a soldier named John who was kidnapped or "conscripted" by the UNSC when he was just six years old, and then brutally trained to become an elite Spartan warrior known as Master Chief 117.

The script then takes us through the horrific first contact with the Covenant hordes on the doomed colony world of Harvest, and then climaxes with the spectacular fall of the UNSC forward base on Reach, during which every other Spartan is slaughtered.

The script also gives detailed outlines for the second movie, HALO: RISE OF THE FLOOD, which takes place entirely on the Halo ringworld, and the third and final movie, HALO: BATTLE FOR EARTH, which roughly follows the events of Halo 3, the game.

One cool advantage of this first script is that (like the shark in JAWS) you don't even see the Covenant until halfway through the movie. And because all the creatures are CGI creations, this cuts the budget down dramatically and makes a first Halo movie that much more viable. For Halo fans, it's like the prequel that provides all the answers to questions they've thought about for years. For non Halo fans, it's an exciting action movie that provides a clear, concise introduction to a world five hundred years in the future with relatable characters and a terrifying alien menace.

So there you have it folks! If there is anyone at Microsoft or Bungie reading this, call CAA, get the damn script and at least take a read! You guys certainly have nothing to lose by taking a look because the guy’s track record speaks for itself.

If you’re a HALO fan, harass Microsoft to take action because from what I gathered here in Hollywood, unfortunately the guys that are seriously cock blocking the HALO movie from getting made are those control freaks at Microsoft.

Again what does Microsoft have to lose by taking a look at a script written by a big time Hollywood screenwriter who decided to take a crack at HALO on his own?

Nada!

I will be following this story closely as more develops along with trying to obtain the script myself like I did with Alex Garland’s draft back in the day so stay tuned.

[Scarecrow]

Not an April Fools right?

Interesting although concerned that Master Chief may be the main character in such a script with lots of room to go very wrong.


- Scarecrow

[Just Jeans]

I'm not keen on a prequel story, mostly because I've not read the book in question, but I suppose if it's good then I'll be satisfied.

[TheShowstoppa]

If that's an April Fool's Prank - It's pretty piss poor. I'm getting my hopes up just thinking about it.

[Biosynthnut v.2]

I'm not keen on a prequel story, mostly because I've not read the book in question, but I suppose if it's good then I'll be satisfied.

If this is not a fake I'd probably crap my self... And a prequel on the book FoR isn't that bad of an idea. Cause you would get to know the MC and who he was and what he is about to become.

If this is true....:shifty:

[Biosynthnut v.2]

Looks like Fall of Reach is what it could be. The guy doing the script for Gears of War is also tackling a Halo script, based on Fall of Reach.Halo FoR (http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/17247/Halo-Movie-Resurrected/)

[FreddyKR]

Jeans, I highly recommend the Fall of Reach...it's one of my favorite books.

[Cody]

New Big Name Producer (http://iesb.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7261:iesb-exclusive-master-chief-and-halo-may-be-coming-to-the-big-screen-sooner-than-expected-with-a-new-big-name-producer&catid=43:exclusive-features&Itemid=73)

HALO, the wildly popular video games that follow Master Chief, a cybernetically-enhanced human super-soldier, and his artificial intelligence (AI) companion, Cortana as they aide future humanity in battling the Covenant, a theocratic alliance of alien races, may be coming to the big screen much sooner than we expected.

IESB has learned exclusively (believe me this is solid and I've confirmed it three times over with studio executives and our close ties to CAA) that one of the biggest producers in Hollywood history is currently in active negotiations to develop the feature film adaptation and no it's not Jerry Bruckheimer or Peter Jackson. It's the man behind Jaws, E.T., Indiana Jones and Transformers, Mr. Steven Spielberg.

Spielberg is blown away by writer Stuart Beattie's take on the game in his script entitled HALO THE FALL OF REACH. This coupled with the fact that his Dreamworks umbrella is looking for a big tent pole to help launch their newly independant studio with distribution over at Walt Disney Pictures after losing Transformers to Paramount in the separation, it's the perfect combination.

Word is CAA, who rep both Spielberg and Beattie, is pushing these negotiations heavily.

[CountProphet]

I'm in doubt is this the only source so far with this information?:confused:

Still. FU*K YEAH! :bang::bang::bang:


I hope this is true! I've been waiting for a Halo film for awhile, now!:pray:


The remaining spartans at the time of the Halo game are: Linda, Tom, Kelly, and another I forget the name. But their are like 5 or 7 left out of the 300 spartans chosen, including John(MC). Think of John as King Leonidas(sp).


The remaining Spartans are Linda, Kelly, and Fred. Thats as, of right now though. 300 Spartans? There was only 75 candinates chosen and only 30-some when Reach was attacked. You sure your not thinking of the Spartan 3s?


Alex Garland's script had been rewritten by the time the movie was shelved, but his draft was supposedly really good. Latino Review had a really favorable review of it: http://www.latinoreview.com/scriptreview.php?id=1

That script was bad! Why? Well.....the essence of the Halo story and it's characters were altered to fit a stand alone, slapped together movie. He didn't know Cortana, and to make that worse, they made her life size, so there could be an awkward sexual tension between them. Their connection was never of that sort and it cheapened their relationship. To, top if all off he lost his outstanding...maturity. Like the fact that he would never punch something out of anger, yell in rage, or ask a commanding officer (who is a jerk) 'what is your problem with me?'. MC, Has no interest in others' petty emotions of dislike towards him, his own suppressed emotions run too deep for that.

[Just Jeans]

You have to be an emotional creature to display maturity. I've only played the first game and a little bit of the second, but Master Chief doesn't strike me as an emotional creature, which sort of renders the concept of maturity moot.

[Spook]

For the record, I read and absolutely loved Alex Garland's draft of Halo.

Now, about Spielberg being on board, I am not excited at all. I would much rather have Jackson and Blomkamp's name attached to this. Spielberg hasn't made a good, big budget film in years. Also, if he signs on only to produce, there is a strong risk that Michael Bay's name will be floating around the project, since he and Spielberg have previously partnered up and made shit loads of money.

Bring back Peter Jackson and Neil Blomkamp!

[Just Jeans]

Wouldn't it be an interesting development if Spielberg convinced Lucas to direct this shit? :X

[The Dream Master]

Wouldn't it be an interesting development if Spielberg convinced Lucas to direct this shit? :X

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/7886/buyfordollar.jpg

[Scarecrow]

Wouldn't it be an interesting development if Spielberg convinced Lucas to direct this shit? :X


I can just see the "hilarious" Grunt antics now....


- Scarecrow

[CountProphet]

For the record, I read and absolutely loved Alex Garland's draft of Halo.

:duh::confused::p

Also, if he signs on only to produce, there is a strong risk that Michael Bay's name will be floating around the project, since he and Spielberg have previously partnered up and made shit loads of money.

I'm pretty sure Beattie and Spielberg wouldn't be retarded and target a movie like this with so much potential to the teen-aged, stereotypical audience.

Bring back Peter Jackson and Neil Blomkamp!
Yep, them FTW!!!

[Spook]

I'm pretty sure Beattie and Spielberg wouldn't be retarded and target a movie like this with so much potential to the teen-aged, stereotypical audience.

I wouldn't be too sure of that. Bay and Spielberg seem to have a working relationship, and the fact that Transformers 2 made a hell of a lot of money could mean that Spielberg might try throwing around Bay's name. Bay would probably strongly consider the project, since he'd see there would be opportunity to insert some random sluts and big explosions. Beattie doesn't really get a say, since he's a writer. Writer's hardly ever get a hand in choosing which director to go with, especially with a big project like this.

[CountProphet]

Microsoft still owns the rights no? The Halo Franchise is a money-maker so, I doubt they'll want to fu*k this up. I don't think we have anything to worry about. Still I hope that:



a) The Director is a fan of the source material.
b) Will not budge by studio demands.
c) Has a unique style and vision
and
d) Is not afraid of an R rating.

One more thing. This the only source that comfirms Spielberg's involvement?:confused: Is all we have is this article and others reposting the same thing?

[Spook]

Well, I'm sure Microsoft wouldn't reject Spielberg. However, there is still a chance that Bay could be involved. Just because we don't like Bay, doesn't mean the studios don't like him. All these studios want (including Microsoft) is to make money, and because Transformers 2 made a butt load of cash, there's a possibility that they will have him on a list of directors for the project.

a.) I think whoever is chosen as the director will say they are a fan of the source material, regardless whether it is true or not.
b.) Doing this would risk the director getting fired. Negotiating would be the best approach.
c.) Unique style and vision would be nice.
d.) The R-rating isn't up to the director. Director's are contractually obliged to deliver whatever rating that the studio demands. So if Spielberg indeed gets involved, I think Paramount will be releasing it (isn't DreamWorks and Paramount partnered up now?). So lets hope they got some sense. I have a feeling they will push for PG-13. This is another reason why I want Jackson and Blomkamp. At least we know they will deliver (or try to) an R-rated picture.

Also, it isn't confirmed that Spielberg is involved. It is just confirmed that he is actively pursuing the project. There is good chance that he won't even be involved. Also, the article comes from IESB, and they are actually really good with their scoops, so I believe what they say most of the time.

[The Dream Master]

I will bet just about anything I own that this will end up being PG-13. Seriously, an R-rating effectively takes away most of their target audience.

[CountProphet]

Well, I'm sure Microsoft wouldn't reject Spielberg. However, there is still a chance that Bay could be involved. Just because we don't like Bay, doesn't mean the studios don't like him. All these studios want (including Microsoft) is to make money, and because Transformers 2 made a butt load of cash, there's a possibility that they will have him on a list of directors for the project.

Once, again I will say that I'm sure Bungie/Microsoft would never let that happen. They want money? Sure but, I'm sure they also want the film to be the best it can be. Still, I know what your saying but, I'm hoping they don't go down that route. I don't need to see any more BAYSPLOSIONS! :duh:

d.) The R-rating isn't up to the director. Director's are contractually obliged to deliver whatever rating that the studio demands. So if Spielberg indeed gets involved, I think Paramount will be releasing it (isn't DreamWorks and Paramount partnered up now?). So lets hope they got some sense. I have a feeling they will push for PG-13. This is another reason why I want Jackson and Blomkamp. At least we know they will deliver (or try to) an R-rated picture.


I will bet just about anything I own that this will end up being PG-13. Seriously, an R-rating effectively takes away most of their target audience.


Hopefully Spielberg will be like "look A holes! Fans have been waiting for 5+ years and there is no way they aren't going, unless maybe you completely piss them off by rating it R."

I know LOTR was a little bit different genre, but it is absolutely amazing and it easily got a PG-13 rating and people (and orcs) were gettin' hacked to pieces and crushed and shot in the face with arrows.


Also just for the heck of it: http://i29.tinypic.com/a9xt2e.jpg

[The Dream Master]

To go along with what I said before, I'd also say that I don't think Halo would need to be rated R. It'll be similar to the LOTR phenomenon you're talking about: as long as aliens are getting blown to shit, it'll be cool. If it were humans, it'd be different. I think Halo will be just fine at PG-13, but that's not to say I'd kick an R-rated version out of bed. :X

[CountProphet]

No, your right. I don't think intensity would be lost with an, PG-13 rating. The sequel(if there ever is one), Halo: The Flood(when their on the ringworld) though, would warrant an R though. Just for the Flood alone.

[Just Jeans]

I will bet just about anything I own that this will end up being PG-13. Seriously, an R-rating effectively takes away most of their target audience.

I never really felt that the first game much deserved an M rating anyway. There isn't really anything in it that couldn't be done in a PG-13 film.

[Biosynthnut v.2]

Well considering this is "Fall of Reach" their is no need for a R rating. Nothing in that book was uber violent. Since the majority of the book was the 300 spartans becoming Earths best warriors. The Covenant didn't attack Reach till the last qrtr. of the book.

[CountProphet]

I never really felt that the first game much deserved an M rating anyway. There isn't really anything in it that couldn't be done in a PG-13 film.

I don't know wouldn't the nature of the Flood equal automatic R? Unless, they water that down.:cry:


Since the majority of the book was the 300 spartans becoming Earths best warriors.

75.;)

[Just Jeans]

I don't know wouldn't the nature of the Flood equal automatic R?

I don't see why. There are a lot of ideas in films that could, in theory, quite easily lend themselves to R-rated material (Heath Ledger's interpretation of the Joker comes to mind), but nothing in the first game involving the Flood was particularly graphic. The concept is pretty grizzly, but what was on screen was relatively dry. The hosts are twisted and mangled, but they're not oozing viscera all over the screen.