Contrary to previous statements, Microsoft is not marching onward with plans to produce a feature film based on its Halo video game franchise following the exit of co-financers Universal Pictures and 20 Century Fox. The film’s exec producers, Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh of Wingnut Films, have announced that the film has been shelved until financing gets back on rack.
Wingnut issued a statement that reads, ‘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.
Universal and Fox pulled out of the picture earlier this month over issues with the film’s budget and the amount of revenues earmarked for Microsoft and the filmmakers. Pre-production had already begun at Jackson’s New Zealand-based Weta Digital and Weta Workshop, but it appears the vfx shops will be focusing on other productions for the time being.
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