NEWS | Halo On Hold

Despite reassurances by Microsoft and Peter Jackson that HALO would be a-OK after Fox and Universal bailed on the film due to budgetary concerns, Jackson's Wingnut Films announced this morning that production on the film has been halted indefinitely. "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," said the release. Jackson's agent said a few weeks ago that Microsoft was already in talks with other distribution partners after Fox and Universal backed out. But it seemed that Paramount/DreamWorks were the only studio truly in the running. Sony and Disney were out because of their competition with Microsoft (Sony owns Xbox rival Playstation while Apple founder Steve Jobs is the largest Disney shareholder). New Line was also out because of an ongoing lawsuit with Jackson over LORD OF THE RINGS. That left Warner Bros. and Paramount but word started to get out that the price was too high for the WB who was coming off a difficult year. That left Paramount and the likely destination but clearly that deal was unable to materialize as Jackson and Microsoft opted to instead put the film on hold. Should the film ever get back underway (and at the time both Jackson and Microsoft hope that it can), director Neill Blomkamp will likely still be involved as the release also noted, "We are fully supportive of Director Neill Blomkamp's vision of the film."