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Halo Script Hawked To Studios

Posted by Zonk on Tue Jun 07, 2005 04:49 PM
from the i'd-buy-that-for-a-dollar dept.
Microsoft First Person Shooters (Games) Media Movies
Gamespot has the story of Microsoft's crusade to sell the Halo movie script to a studio. They really went all out, apparently, with messengers dressed as Master Chief delivering the scripts to the major studios. From the article: "Whatever studio picks up the project would also have to relinquish 'strict control of development' to Halo developer Bungie Studios, who have written a 'bible' which any director and producer would have to follow. Variety's sources say the purpose of the 'bible' is 'to make sure any changes to the script don't alter the universe established in the first two Halo games that will continue in future sequels,' apparently further confirming Halo 3 is in the works."
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  • All this talk of the Halo universe and its bible has me wondering... have they written in this bible how the Marathon games tie in? It's been stated before by the guys at Bungie that yes, there is a link. They just haven't said precisely how. Yet.
  • Although I'm sure some will see the $10 million price for the script, and the "Bible" as a sign of Microsoft's vanity, I see it as a good thing.
    The "Bible" will keep the script from hurting the Halo 1-2 story continuity, and also make sure the film doesn't set precedents that the game developers don't want to follow.
    Second, the $10 million price tag will make sure the film studio is fully committed to the project, ensuring a large budget for the film and therefore a better chance at high-quality visual
    • First: I wish everyone would stop putting bible in quotation marks and, in this case, capitalizing it. It is actually a technical term in this case and is not referring to any scriptures of a particular relgigion. Any writer that develops a TV series creates a bible. If the intent is for a series of movies, or any series where there will be multiple scripts written by different people, a bible is a must. It describes the characters involved, the relationships between the characters, the standing sets, and, if it's a tech script, there will also be a tech guide, or tech bible that explains exactly what the different pieces of equipment can do, what their abilities are, and what the limitations are. When my agent first got the "go-ahead" that I'd be pitching to ST:TNG, within 2-3 days there were 2 Trek bibles on my doorstep as well as a stack of paper that was full of summaries of all previous episodes. One bible was the regular writer's guide (often called the series bible), the other was Okuda and Sternbach's tech bible. Even before I pitched to them, they wanted to be sure I had all the rules about the characters and gadgets right.

      So, that having been said, I agree. Having a bible is a good thing. It will keep the, "That didn't work like that in the game," problems to a minimum. On the other hand, if the bible was written by gaming people, it could cause problems for a good writer who knows film and finds him or herself restricted by rules that force awkward or limited character development or create situations that don't play well in a 2 hour movie.

    • Re:Happy they're taking measures for continuity (Score:5, Interesting)

      by Grab (126025) on Wednesday June 08 2005, @05:19AM (#12755966) Homepage
      but it does help with creating a believable universe

      Not really. Check the Matrix for a prime example. And note that good FX != believable.

      Regarding LOTR, the actors were all relative unknowns at the time they were hired. All of them were good actors, yes (although Elijah Wood sadly still doesn't convince as Frodo - ho hum), but none of them were doing it for the money. In fact, none of the crew were doing it for the money at all. Watch the "making-of" bits on the extended DVDs and you'll see how personally committed they all were, and how much each group (actors and support, digital FX, model-makers, etc) really became a family. The sheer *closeness* of them all afterwards was unbelievable.

      Personally I don't there's any other movie that could inspire that kind of commitment, or ever will again. The reason they all committed was bcos it *was* LOTR, not bcos they were being paid. LOTR was a one-off, and I can't see any here-today-gone-tomorrow computer game tie-in getting anywhere near. Certainly not just bcos some studio boss has splurged $10m for the rights.

      Grab.
  • "The script was penned by screenwriter Alex Garland (28 Days Later, The Beach), who was reportedly paid $1 million for his services."

    I can't say that I'm a terribly large fan of either of those movies. I think this guy was overpaid just a little much. They could've lifted one of the internet from some fanfic site for a lot cheaper. I'm a little bit worried about how good of a script it is.

    "Whatever studio picks up the project would also have to relinquish "strict control of development" to Halo dev

    • Good points about the Bible -- Bungie has been so careful with it, I would hope this will be some guarantee of quality in terms of the movie's plot.

      But more to the point, where are you paying $7 for a movie ticket? I want in on that action.

    • I can't say that I'm a terribly large fan of either of those movies. I think this guy was overpaid just a little much. They could've lifted one of the internet from some fanfic site for a lot cheaper. I'm a little bit worried about how good of a script it is.

      I think Red v. Blue [roosterteeth.com] would be the perfect fanfic site to get the movie script from :p

      "I knew you could pick up chicks in a tank." -- Tucker

    • I think this guy was overpaid just a little much. They could've lifted one of the internet from some fanfic site for a lot cheaper. I'm a little bit worried about how good of a script it is.

      I agree that it was a bit too much for the script, but I hope you are joking with your fanfic remark.

      If fanfic authors were any good, they probably wouldn't be writing fanfics.

      Ok, that might have been a bit too harsh. There are a couple of jewels hidden in all the muck that are fanfics, but they usually tend to be
    • Are you kidding? 28 Days later was great! There's another story about it [macworld.com] at MacWorld if you want to read more.

  • Halo 3 'in the works' (Score:3, Insightful)

    by skinfitz (564041) on Tuesday June 07 2005, @04:58PM (#12752181) Journal
    It better had be 'in the works' otherwise I for one will not be even considering an XBox360.
  • Uwe Bowl can get lost right now!

  • UWE BOLL! (Score:3, Funny)

    by smileyy (11535) <smileyy@fitterhappier.nu> on Tuesday June 07 2005, @05:16PM (#12752334) Homepage
    Uwe Boll!
    Uwe Boll!
    Uwe Boll!

  • Huh? (Score:4, Insightful)

    by Captain Splendid (673276) <capsplendid AT gmail DOT com> on Tuesday June 07 2005, @05:16PM (#12752337) Homepage Journal
    apparently further confirming Halo 3 is in the works

    Sorry, I missed the bit where we're all under the assumption that Halo 3 might not be happening.

    • Bungie has been extremely careful not to do anything to confirm that they're creating a game called "Halo 3" that follows the Halo and Halo 2 line in the usual sense. If you look at their statements, they're working on another project, they do have some stuff in mind for a video game based on the Bungie universe, but they won't confirm Halo 3 itself.

      If they are doing a Halo 3 like we all expect, why wouldn't they confirm it? (Other than to be their usual annoying Bungie selves, but I don't think they'd do
      • A crisp twenty-dollar bill says Halo 3 is an FPS.

        Having said that, a Bungie-created Halo RTS? Droooooooooool.

        • A crisp twenty-dollar bill says Halo 3 is an FPS.

          I bet it will be a text adventure.

          You stand in a long corridor that runs north and south through the Covenant ship. Organic walls glisten wetly in the dim light, exuding an alien smell that assails your nostrils. To the east a large metallic door is set in the wall.

          >i
          You are carrying:
          a plasma rifle
          a shotgun
          a fragmentation grenade

          >look at door
          The door is made of some strangely colored metallic substance. A red light set into the
          • I bet it will be a text adventure.

            This is Halo, remember?

            You are in a maze of twisty passages, all alike.

            >n
            You are in a maze of twisty passages, all alike.

            >e
            You are in a maze of twisty passages, all alike.

            >s
            You are in a maze of twisty passages, all alike. You are likely to get eaten by the Flood.

            Etc. Etc. Ad nauseam...
    • But Halo 2 was such a complete story, wrapping up all loose ends... how could they possible make another?

  • Master Chief in Action (Score:3, Informative)

    by SwornPacifist (121005) on Tuesday June 07 2005, @05:28PM (#12752457)
    For those curious, here's a picture of one of the the Master Chief messengers [defamer.com]
  • Any word on whether or not they were interested in the script?

    On a more serious note, I wonder well this will fly in Hollywood. As much as there is money to be made, Hollywood types have their own massive egos and control issues. Being told, "Here's a script we want you to make, and a bible you have to adhere to while doing it" might not get the results they are interested in.

    LotR and the Harry Potter movies have been successful even though they don't capture the true canon of the books. I think in the long run they' be better off breaking canon, but having a good movie. The flip side, is that MS has enough money to pay the production costs themselves. Get someone who is good, produce it yourself, and only use Hollywood for the distribution. That way you maintain total control throughoutand you can make sure your investment is wisely spent.

  • I wouldn't mind a Half Life movie--that video game had far more interesting characters in it. Morrowind has a bit more potential, too. Even Myst. But Halo just never struck me as a particularly interesting story, even for a video game.
  • I can see them attempting to work it so that the film and the Episode III video game are released at the same time. The hype levels would be staggering.

  • Laughing my butt off (Score:3, Insightful)

    by DaveJay (133437) on Tuesday June 07 2005, @08:33PM (#12753829)
    This is the funniest thing I've read in a long time. My wife works in the feature film industry, and I can tell you that showing up at a studio dressed as a character and carrying a script is -not- what gets a script sold; it's what makes studios put you on an instant rejection list. Neither is showing up with a bible and saying "you can't violate this history when making the film" -- that just tells the studio the contracts have to get creative control away from you, lest you bog the whole thing down over the "accuracy" of the fiction.

    If Microsoft really wants to see this thing made, they have the cash, and cash or publicity are the two possible ways to get a movie made these days. Generate a lot of publicity by deciding to go it alone, sign up the best production company that money can buy, and go nuts.

    Oh, and I doubt the people who would watch a Halo movie are going to give a rat's arse about the backstory, any more than the people who watched resident evil. And hey, guess what -- if they do, it'll be the backstory OF THE MOVIE, not the game.

    Okay, rant over. But it was a rant with a smile on my face, I promise. Hilarious!
  • ..which you all should also be concerned with.

    1. The voice actor for MasterChief in the games voices him.
    2. The voice actor for Cortana voices her.
    3. Two words, Sergeant Johnson.

    Because of his armor, having one actor do MasterChief's movements and another his voice would work, ala Darth Vader.

    Since Cortana would probably be computer generated, again, no issue.

    And Sergeant Johnson rocks.
  • I seem to remember it being titled "Ringworld"

    Seriously, Halo was a good single player game, but the story was always kind of weak and the endings have been major suxxor.

    Larry Niven could poop out a better story.
    • I seem to remember it being titled "Ringworld"

      Funny. I thought it was titled Consider Phlebas [iainbanks.net]. ;-)
      • Consider Phlebas by Iain M. Banks:
        First published - 1987
        Awards Won - ? (Zero by my search)

        Ringworld by Larry Niven:
        First Published - 1970
        Awards Won - 1970 Nebula Award (Best Novel), 1971 Hugo Award (Best Novel) and the 1970 Locus Award, amongst others.

        p0wn3d!!

        I'll agree that Consider Phlebas has scored well in many sci-fi reviews: Banks is no hack and it can stand on it's own merits without being thought of as a Ringworld rip-off.

        That said, giving credit where credit is due, Banks borrowed the ring conc
  • which conjures up an entirely different image.
    • This is the way it works the other way around, so why not? Film companies have far too much creative control over game tie-ins and have completely over-the-top financial demands. It's good to see the reverse happening. This property started out as a game and the designers are absolutely right to set these demands and not cave in just to get a film company interested. Movies are not the be-all and end-all, and it looks like someone in the game industry has finally realised it.
    • Movie studio makes huge hit yet when they try to convert it into a video game, it bombs. Badly. Sure the game was a financial success but lets face it, the entire Matrix series never fully recovered from the shock.

      Screw the movie studios. They screwed up The Matrix when they went from movie to video game. They screwed up Tomb Raider when they went video game to movie. They screwed up Starship Troopers when they went from book to movie. They can't seem to do anything right anymore so let Bungie and Microsoft

      • I don't think you give that movie enough credit. I think you should really try and see the finer points of Starship Troopers and not dismiss it because it didn't turn out to be what you wanted it to be. It's subtle and overblown at the same time. It's a great action movie and a satire of humanity at the same time.

        The movie studios have done good work making movies from books and comics (I will admit video games seem to be more miss than hit, but if I was 10 years younger I probably would have enjoyed To
      • Sure the game was a financial success but lets face it, the entire Matrix series never fully recovered from the shock.

        In fairness, I'm not sure the Matrix series ever fully recovered from Reloaded and Revolutions. The original was one of the best SF movies ever made. The sequel was a mediocre action movie. The third was an insult to the whole concept.

          • That's a good point. And the game was a lot worse than Revolutions. The story wasn't that bad, but the gameplay stank. Why is there a long stretch in the sewers in a modern game ?
    • It's called Starship Troopers, and it bombed.

      I think it did well at the box office, just that they had gone too far over budget. In my view it was quite a decent flick, and a successful satire.

    • Hey if you wanna see the movie now. Just go drink a little beer, rent Aliens 2 and Starship Troopers. It'll be the same thing.

      • Don't forget to grab an Xbox controller before you start the films. It makes the power loader fight ten times better. Although if you lose, gaming might not be your forte.
      • Halo's a very different story. Those movies were more about man vs nature, in that the enemies were swarms of unthinking, unstoppable insects. (well, there was a kind "group intelligence" but it was very alien)

        The primary enemies in Halo are the Covenant, a UN style group of aliens who have a religious mission to kill all humans and make way for their "great journey". The "unstoppable insect" enemy is the Flood, but its really more of a plot device and annoyance compared to the Covies.

        Halo 2 even has a ci
    • I wish they had made the producers of the Doom movie consult with Id Software for the script

      Doom remains the prototypical first person shooters. But iD doesn't seem able to carry the ball any further. Story has always been iD's greatest weakness. Carmack never seemed to think it was important.

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