Could the upcoming Halo movie, produced by Peter Jackson, be in danger? Yes and no. According to Variety, both Fox and Universal, who had agreed to co-finance the screen adaptation of the Bungie-developed game, have suddenly backed out of the picture. The rumor is that the budget was apparently skyrocketing way past the projected $135 million, but filmmakers said that the studios left the picture after unsuccessfully playing hardball to try to get them and Microsoft to decrease their profit participation.
Microsoft was apparently to have received most of an upfront $5 million on October 15, but as that deadline approached the studios made their pay cut demand. MS was also entitled to 10 percent of the gross for rights to the game and a script by Alex Garland.
Ken Kamins, who represents Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh, explained the situation: "The only budget the filmmakers every spoke about was $145 million less the 12.5% rebate that you get from shooting in New Zealand, which would put it at about $128 million. That was the only number that was ever discussed."
Kamins continued, "What happened was this: Universal, on behalf of both studios, asked for a meeting with the filmmakers just prior to the due date of a significant payment. Basically, they said that in order to move forward with the film, the filmmakers had to significantly reduce their deals. They waited until the last minute to have this conversation. Peter and Fran, after speaking with their producing partners and with Microsoft and Bungee (the studio that designed the original game), respectfully declined."
While losing Fox and Universal is certainly a blow to the Halo movie, Kamins reassured that Microsoft is already in talks with other partners and there's certainly no plan to abandon the film. In fact, preparations are continuing uninterrupted. There had also been some speculation that the studios were concerned about the choice of director. Neill Blomkamp is just 27 and is a first-time feature director. Both Jackson and Walsh are excited by what Blomkamp brings to the table, however.
"Everybody is supremely confident in Neal," Kamins said. "Part of what excited Peter and Fran was Neill's vision. We're very confident this film will move forward with the creative partners intact, who will take the film to production."
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Could the upcoming Halo movie, produced by Peter Jackson, be in danger? Yes and no. According to Variety, both Fox and Universal, who had agreed to co-finance the screen adaptation of the Bungie-developed game, have suddenly backed out of the picture. The rumor is that the budget was apparently skyrocketing way past the projected $135 million, but filmmakers said that the studios left the picture after unsuccessfully playing hardball to try to get them and Microsoft to decrease their profit participation.
Microsoft was apparently to have received most of an upfront $5 million on October 15, but as that deadline approached the studios made their pay cut demand. MS was also entitled to 10 percent of the gross for rights to the game and a script by Alex Garland.
Ken Kamins, who represents Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh, explained the situation: "The only budget the filmmakers every spoke about was $145 million less the 12.5% rebate that you get from shooting in New Zealand, which would put it at about $128 million. That was the only number that was ever discussed."
Kamins continued, "What happened was this: Universal, on behalf of both studios, asked for a meeting with the filmmakers just prior to the due date of a significant payment. Basically, they said that in order to move forward with the film, the filmmakers had to significantly reduce their deals. They waited until the last minute to have this conversation. Peter and Fran, after speaking with their producing partners and with Microsoft and Bungee (the studio that designed the original game), respectfully declined."
While losing Fox and Universal is certainly a blow to the Halo movie, Kamins reassured that Microsoft is already in talks with other partners and there's certainly no plan to abandon the film. In fact, preparations are continuing uninterrupted. There had also been some speculation that the studios were concerned about the choice of director. Neill Blomkamp is just 27 and is a first-time feature director. Both Jackson and Walsh are excited by what Blomkamp brings to the table, however.
"Everybody is supremely confident in Neal," Kamins said. "Part of what excited Peter and Fran was Neill's vision. We're very confident this film will move forward with the creative partners intact, who will take the film to production."