Halo‘s history of becoming more than just a video game, but a way of life, man, is a tortured one. In 2005, Alex Garland began writing a script for a film based on the game, which I distinctively remember involved me running around in circles and getting upset at Cortana for reasons that are neither here not there, but it was rewritten by D. B. Weiss and Josh Olson a year later. On top of that, executive producer Peter Jackson and Columbia Pictures president Peter Schlessel got into a fight with Universal Studios, who were set to co-finance the film with Columbia, and, well, a lot of people couldn’t agree on a lot of money. At one point, it was even rumored that Steven Spielberg’s DreamWorks Pictures would buy the rights for the movie, but that never happened, either.
But just as Halo-branded Mountain Dew never left me hanging when I needed it the most, Spielberg never gave up on Halo. According to CNET, Señor Spielbergo’s American union equivalent will produce a Halo TV show.
Director Steven Spielberg will helm the creation of a new Halo live-action TV series. Microsoft and 343 Industries announced the new series during their Xbox One unveil event today.
Spielberg presumably will produce the new show in conjunction with Halo developer 343 Industries. Halo, the popular franchise that has anchored Xbox for years, used to be developed by Bungie Studios. Microsoft did not specify what Spielberg’s role would be.
Though Spielberg was not able to attend Microsoft’s Xbox One event in Redmond, Wash., he appeared on screen, noting that the Halo franchise is “myth-making meat.” (Via)
If Halo: The Television Series, as it’s been creatively called for now, is half as good as Animaniacs, which Spielberg also produced, it will be a generation-defining classic. Maybe Master Chief can even teach us about state capitals? SPACE state capitals.
(Via CNET)
