Seems Fox and Universak weren't happy about not having complete control over the project, and to be honest... they are wrong, they shouldn't have any control at all.
No doubt they wanted a direct from MTV director, some shoddy script writer (Paul Anderson anyone? ) and a generic pop-metal soundtrack.
Update: Read more!
Unfortunately for fans this means the project has stalled. Then again, at least it would/does stand a chance of not sucking balls because universal and fox are locked out of making decisions, and when they make decisions they are usually terrible (alien vs predator anyone? )
Quote:
Fox and Universal, the two studios that had agreed to finance and distribute the upcoming Halo movie, have pulled out of the deal following a breakdown in negotiations with Peter Jackson and Microsoft.
The studios, it appears, were concerned about the complete creative control the original deal afforded Microsoft and Bungie while there have been rumors that the budget of the project had skyrocketed to over USD 200 million. A spokesperson for executive producers Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh has denied the rumors regarding the budget and has told Variety magazine, The only budget the filmmakers every spoke about was $145 million less the 12.5 per cent rebate that you get from shooting in New Zealand, which would put it at about $128 million, that was the only number that was ever discussed.
This development may trouble Microsoft as it has always claimed it wants the movie as a big budget venture, something which can't happen without big studio support. Considering the popularity of the franchise and that pre production has already begun, it is unlikely that MS will not find some other studio to finance and distribute the Halo movie.
The most likely consequence of this breakdown with Fox and Universal will be a delay in the release of the movie if Microsoft fails to secure a partner very quickly.
To be honest, beyond the fact that a company is standing up for the integrity of their gaming license (boy did i wish capcom would have had a spine handling Resident Evil), i really couldn't give a rats ass about halo.
It appears that cinema giants 20th Century Fox and Universal Pictures have rethought their decision to help fund the creation of a motion picture based off the Halo video game.
According to Variety magazine, the companies were concerned about the growing budget of the creation of the film, which was supposed to top out at about $135 million. Fox and Universal allegedly tried to negotiate a hard deadline (which ended up being October 15) by which the filmmakers had to cut back on their forecasted profit margin.
What has followed is a classic case of he-said-she-said, with both sides spinning the story in opposite directions. A statement out of the filmmaker's camp (headed by the now famous Fran Walsh and Peter Jackson, who are co-executive producers on the film) was released shortly after this news originally broke.
"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," they say. "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."
In the meantime, Microsoft is working out a new deal with other distribution companies.
I had a laugh about your MTV director comment. it's totally true. but then I think...I mean...I thought Final Fantasy : the Spirits Within (the cgi one) was written and directed by the video game guy too. It wasn't any good. It was well better than the anderson-bolle fare. But it wasn't worth the cost of production, so to speak.
I could have predicted that would have made a lousy film because it made a lousy set of games. Its so full of its self story wise.
Halo, although i don't rate the games is all scifi action, with a bmovie sideline. Could be a good action movie, and i think that's what microsoft is having trouble dictating to the studios.
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) and a generic pop-metal soundtrack.
