Halo Chronicles 'No longer happening' says Peter Jackson
- July 27, 2009 00:00 AM PST
Much speculation has surrounded Halo Chronicles, a game that was to be developed by Peter Jackson along with Microsoft. However, much like the ill fated attempt at bringing Halo to the big screen, it seems development of Chronicles is being put to rest.
Many of us remember back in 2006 when Peter Jackson, the director behind The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and Bad Taste, said that he was working on bringing Halo to the big screen. Unfortunately, that attempt didn't pan out. That same year (specifically in September 2006), he also announced an episodic Xbox 360 game that his Wingnut Interactive studios were developing with Microsoft Game Studios, entitled, Halo Chronicles.
Peter Jackson says, Halo Chronicles is 'No Longer Happening.' But, does he only mean, it's happening without him?
Last Friday at Comic-Con, after showing off District 9 (a film he produced, and directed by Neill Blomkamp who was slated to direct the Halo movie), he told Joystiq,
"That Halo project is no longer happening, it sort of collapsed when the movie didn't end up happening."
Which is a bit odd, considering there were confirmed reports as recently as April 2008 stating,
"Microsoft Game Studios has been hard at work collaborating with Peter Jackson and Bungie on the development of [a Peter Jackson-helmed Halo project]." - Microsoft
Even last August, 343 Industries (The new Microsoft "Halo" studio) hired Ryan Payton (producer on Metal Gear Solid 4), who was confirmed to be working on the project.
So perhaps a game is still in development, but it just won't be headed by Peter Jackson and crew. That's all right though, he's got enough on his plate, what with The Lovely Bones, Tintin and The Hobbit films, just to name a few.
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With all these video game movie adaptations happening, I'm surprised a Halo movie couldn't get off the ground, especially with the likes of Peter Jackson behind it. I'm a big fan of his, so I'm game for whatever he has to offer, even if it won't be killing aliens in outer space. Ah well, at least District 9 looks awesome.
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Comments [13]
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- Jul 27 2009 at 10:17:57:AM PST
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I'm with you on that. We are seeing a lot of video game movies lately, and comic book movies at that. Resident Evil is getting yet another installment, and those movies are mediocre at best. Considering how big of a name Halo is, and Peter Jackson's, I would think you could get a movie going no problem at all. And finally, a good video game movie at that.
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I was there at Peter Jackson's panel at Comic Con. Peter Jackson told the audience was that the movie fell apart because of politics between Universal and Fox Studios. He said the license for the movie reverted back to Microsoft and Bungie. He also informed us that District 9 resulted from the demise of the Halo Movie. After they found out the Halo project was killed, resources were shifted to Niell Blomkamp's District 9. The story they created for Halo was adapted to Blomkamp's new movie District 9. District 9 itself is a result of the Halo project and Blomkamp's original alien story that took place in South Africa.
Peter Jackson also informed the audience, that locked away at WETA studios are completed costumes and props for the Halo movie. He said that he would still like to complete the Halo project if he was approached to do the movie.
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Really? I doubt budget has anything to do with it, since if they wanted to Bungie could fund the whole thing themselves, and since 343 had enough money to buy Halo they should have enough to continue the movie, and with so much money to be made you would think every studio in Hollywood would jump at the opportunity at making this movie.
IMO it's either Peter Jackson's personal preference (doesn't WANT to make the movie) or there are other unseen problems.
But seriously, if they can make a WoW movie they should be able to make a Halo movie...
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The problem with ANY Halo movie is that it has already been done to a certain extent (please insert ANY alien vs space marine sci-fi movie here). I mean you would have to be a fool to NOT see that Halo borrows elements from the "Aliens" movie. Example: The pelican resembles the dropship they use to search for the missing colonist (& that's just 1 example). IMO, Halo is basically the video game version of the movie "Aliens" except that in Halo they posses intelligence & are @ war w/ humanity. I never had much faith that this movie would make it to the big screen either.
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I've never seen the alien movies but as far as I know the Forerunners, Convenant religion, SPARTAN program, etc. are fairly unique...(Not gonna mention the flood...Half-life used that 3 years before halo)
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Peter Jackson didn't go into specifics about why the movie went up in smoke. He only mentioned that the movie was being co-produced by Universal Studios and Fox Studios. Whether or not the studios were splitting costs, and arguing over who would pay what, and how revenue would be split up is just hearsay. In the end, the audience was told the movie was canceled because of studio politics.
I can say that District 9 looks like it could be a blockbuster. The scenes that were previewed from a story and visual standpoint were appealing to me.
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anyone wanna know y there isn't gonna be a halo film? cause kids aren't allowed to see R rated films
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Kody wrote:
Really? I doubt budget has anything to do with it, since if they wanted to Bungie could fund the whole thing themselves, and since 343 had enough money to buy Halo they should have enough to continue the movie, and with so much money to be made you would think every studio in Hollywood would jump at the opportunity at making this movie...
What the hell are you talking about? Microsoft owns the Halo series, NOT Bungie. And 343 didn't buy the Halo series. 343 is a new studio created by Microsoft to control all future Halo products, rather they are games, anime, movies or anything else. Get your facts straight next time.
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I don't understand how there's going to be a 4th installment of The Resident Evil Movie Saga. Which has almost no similarity to the storyline of the video game franchise for which it's named.
And a Halo Motion Picture Helmed by Peter Jackson who is a proven brilliant director. Can't some how get off the ground.
Comparison's to other Movie Franchise's aside, Halo is completely original and would probably pull-in Spider-Man sized profits.
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