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We’ve been hearing rumors about a potential Halo movie for the past decade, with Alien and Blade Runner director Ridley Scott’s name being associated with the project as far back as 2004 and as recently as this past January. And now it looks like the rumors are becoming a reality… sort of.
According to Microsoft, a “digital feature project” based on the Halo game series is in fact in the works from 343 Industries, Xbox Entertainment Studios, and Ridley Scott’s Scott Free Productions. The feature will be released later this year and will be executive produced by Scott and Scott Free TV President David Zucker. Sergio Mimica-Gezzan (Battlestar Galactica, Heroes) will direct the feature.
Now, what is a “digital feature project” rather than a film, you might be wondering? It’s all a bit vague right now, but it seems likely that this is not something that will get a theatrical release. The Wrap is reporting that the project is expected to follow the same format as Machinima's Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn, which obviously was delivered on the web.
The site adds that the story will follow a “surgically-enhanced super soldier who is not Master Chief” and that Prison Break creator Paul Scheuring may write the digital feature.
Additionally, Microsoft points out that this is “completely separate from the premium Halo television series executive produced by Steven Spielberg, which is still on track.” Back in January we’d heard that District 9’s Neill Blomkamp was directing the pilot for that project. Further confusing matters, Blomkamp had also worked on a now-defunct feature film version of Halo a few years back…
It should also be noted that Mimica-Gezzan is a Spielberg collaborator, having served as first assistant director on many of his films. So there are a lot of big names in the mix here, but not many details yet.
