Just want to check with you guys if all the details are correct.
Ok first off, the Halo movie was once put in to production more than 6 years ago now and things have changed since then but 'm going to start of this episode with a quick overview the movies complex history.
As many of you will know Halo is a franchise once owned by Bungie, an American game developer, that are responsible for the bestselling titles including the Halo trilogy, Halo reach , and Halo 3: ODST. They have also worked lesser know titles such as marathon. Fans have long awaited a halo movie and with dedicated fans and the potential of being THE summer blockbuster for whenever it comes out, it has been a dead cert that there will be a movie coming out. It was always been a matter of time.
All the way back in 2005 now fans caught a whiff of a story. The story read that Peter Snechlessel told the computer giant to pay $1 Million to Alex Garland to write a script for the Halo: Movie and they did so. When I think of Alex Garland quickly Enslaved: Odicy to the West, and 28 days later and the two pieces of work that come to mind though he has wrote for many other notable pieces. The script was then finished and sent off to the big 6 in Hollywood acopanied by messenger boys wearing the iconic Mojonire armour requesting 10 Million Dollars and 15% of the theatrical gross for the script. Four of them declined the offer but in the end Universal Pictures and FOX teamed up together and agreed to part with $5 Million each and give 10% of the Theoretical Gross to Microsoft. With Universal working on USA realise and FOX doing overseas. Meaning there was a partnership between two big rival companies on the largest IP deal in movie history (at the time).
Using their combined power they quickly hired Peter Jackson a Legendary Director with record breaking salary at the time thanks to his previous work on the King Kong remake with Universal studios. At the time he had directed the all three Lord of the Rings films. His latest work being District 9 and he is currently working on Tin Tin with the legendary Spielberg and the two up and coming Hobbit films. I'm sure you will agree this isn't a lay about director straight from college looking for any old work.
At the same time a Neil Blomkamp, a young South African director, came to Universal Studios showing them a 6 minute video titled "Alive in Joburg" which after many years got turned into the multi-award winning film District 9. The production president of Universal then approached Peter Jackson asking whether or not he would help guide Neil into the world of the big screen via his mentoring during the production of the Halo Movie. Soon after the world knew of Neil's involment with the film though at the time Neil's only notable work was some 3D animation on Smallvill and Stargate SG-1. Stacey Snider stepped down as president of Universal Studios in 2006 and was replace by two men, who were keen on keeping Mr. Jackson and agreed to give him a cut from the Theatrical Gross for mentoring Neil thought-out the process.
Later on in that year 20th Century Fox called a meeting to discuss some of the issues they had over the movie. They were concerned that the production cost where becoming too great and that Universal where just throwing away money. Fox weren't afraid of saying this, at one point it was rumoured that they contacted Microsoft and requested that they would remove Universal out of the equation all together. It wasn't long after that the two chairmen of 20th century fox threatened to detach them self from the movie if the two peters and Fran Walsh weren't removed from the movie (or at least reduce there pay). And they did claiming gross mismanagement
Suddenly standing on their own two feet Universal could afforded to keep they pay of their big three and so the proclaimed that they would have to imididly accept reduced pay or they would have to shut the project down. The three refused the ultimatum angry with the fact they had already spent a year on a movie that hadn't even moved out of preproduction yet. And with that the Halo Movie was laid to rest.
Since then Legendary witter of the Pirates of the Carrabin movie, 30 days of night, and Australia. Stuart Beattie has sent a script to Microsoft during the recent writers strike. Stating that it was some fan work based on the Fall of Reach novel but would love to actually work on the Halo Movie. The great Steven Spielberg was also rumoured at one point to be increased in working on the Movie. Though with Transphormenrs: Dark of the moon just out, super 8, cowboys and aliens coming out shortly, and 5 other big films being worked on such as Men in Black III, an adaptation of Michal Morpurgo's War horse. This seems unlikely. Though an encounter with Peter Jackson during their work together during the up and coming Tin Tin film could spark some interest with in the media and we could end up with some answers.
DreamWorks have also nibble that the bait of a halo movie but seem to be steering well away from Universal Studios and Fox's script instead they seem to be looking at adapting a book in the hope of avoiding any and all issues with the law and the pre-spent mound of money the other two studios have thrown away.
Between the gap of District 9 and the Halo Movie Neil took the reins on a three part live action halo 3 marketing campaign. The short was split up into Halo: Arms race, Halo: Combat, and Halo: Last man standing and were later compiled and together are known as Halo: Landfall. The short depict the arming of UNSC marines and construction of equipment, and quickly turns into a gritty action packed scene that follows both ODSTs and marines defending a landing zone from a covenant offensive as they attempt to tag Master Chief as he re-enters the earth atmosphere. This story is directly continued in the opening scenes of Halo 3. The success and popularity of the live action marketing lead to live action trailer being released for Halo 3 ODST, and a four video marketing campaign for halo Reach entitled "Remember Reach" each video following 4 different stories that occurred the day before reach. They were strictly non-violent and story based, with all but one story following civilians. Two other live action trailers were release for Halo: Reach, both following a member of noble six. Birth of a Spartan showed the augmentation of Carter and Deliver Hope, which follows the story of how Kat lost her arm and how the original Noble six got killed in action. Though Neil only ever worked on Landfall and none of the more recent videos.
Recently Frank O'Conner the Franchise Development Director for the halo franchise formally of Bungie but now of 343 industries the new owner of the Halo IP, has recently stated that they will be doing a Halo Film but they are going to wait until the time is right. They are more than aware that they are granted to make a mountain of cash from it both from the box office and merchandise; they are just choosing to wait at the moment. Though it seems unlikely that Peter Jackson will work on the title again as he says "It's difficult to pour yourself into something for 5 months, and then have the from underneath you." He is clearly upset by his treatment during the time he worked with Universal, though Neil (still worry of the project) claims to be a big fan of halo and would love to have a second shot.
The closest to a Halo Movie will be a short halo movie titled "Halo: Faith". It's a Canadian short that will follow the story of 3 Spartan II's as the attempt to defend some power generators from a group of covenant forces. They are currently transisoning from Mark V MJOLNIR to Mark VI, it's at this point I would like to point out that the armour that we are used to seeing on the Master Chief is only Mark IV so expect more advanced weapons and armour in the form of prototypes. The project is estimated to only have a budget of $2,000 though filming with IMAX technology has already finished. Halo faith has a set release date of 11th November 2011, and Majic Pictures and Divine Film Studios helping out. The film is going to have a limited theatrical release and soon after Machinima.com are going to release it to the rest of the world either on their website or their youtube channel. The short is said to have a run time of 12 minutes though it is likely to run longer.