You have to admire Microsoft for one thing, they know how to market. They’ve always beaten other companies and products on their marketing alone, and it’s no different with their approach to the script for Halo, see this from Coming Soon:
Variety says that messengers dressed as Master Chief from Microsoft videogame Halo hit the studios Monday with a screenplay based on the bestselling franchise.
The script is by 28 Days Later screenwriter Alex Garland, who was paid $1 million by Microsoft to write an adaptation that meets the approval of its executives and the game’s creators at subsidiary Bungie Studios.
Microsoft also brought in former Columbia Pictures president Peter Schlessel to help it handle the project and serve as a producer in some capacity.
Microsoft and its representatives at CAA are seeking an advance of $10 million against 15% of the gross and strict control of development, adds the trade. The winning studio would have to follow a “bible” created by game developers 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 for the Xbox.
Wow. That’s the marketing might of Microsoft. Here’s what we’re going to do, here are the rules and the laws, now who wants to buy it? The thing is they know someone will, and with all the additional clauses, it’s just such hot property and comes with a captive audience.
Mind you, despite the attractiveness they report:
New Line and DreamWorks have already passed on the project due to its high cost and concerns about the script. In addition, Sony is believed to have not been included because of its PlayStation division’s competition with Microsoft.
I’m surprised for DreamWorks, I really am. They could have produced something really stunning here. I wonder if maybe Microsoft and Bungie have been too precious and tried to keep too much of a hold on the whole deal?
