Want some information on the reasons why Bungie went for the deal they did, hiring their own script writer and taking it to Hollywood? Seems like it wasn’t always that way.
Back then the plan was to license the Halo universe lock, stock and barrel with no guaranteed Bungie collaboration…. but Hollywood has its own way of doing things. In the case of video-game properties that way is usually “throw me the idol, I’ll throw you the whip” – an all-or-nothing proposition in which game-developers accept a whack of cash in exchange for a “we know how to make movies, you don’t” assurance of quality.
Over at Bungie they’re talking about the history of how they got to where they are, and some talk of the new script.
How did that draft turn out? Let me put it this way: I wrote the script for both Halo games, but as Alex’s interpretation rumbled from one climax to the next I found myself wondering (sometimes aloud): “Damn! How’s the Chief gonna fight his way outta this?!” Only to follow-up a few pages later with: “Oh man, I can’t wait to see that on screen!” Good stuff. And it kept getting better with each successive draft.
It includes a couple of quotes from Garland himself, and a lot of reassurances that they are worrying over the script and movie adaptation but for the right reasons. They want to retain control to make sure it’s done right, and not like many of the other videogame adaptations. Not wrong like this three panel comic that shows what they really don’t want!
They give two reasons why this is going to work out well…
First, our community team…assembled an exhaustive “companion” that will accompany the script during the film’s production…to inspire and inform the filmmakers as well as serve as a point-of-reference for all parties in the event of creative disagreements…Here’s one of the companion’s reference pages. Imagine this level of specificity for every character, weapon, vehicle, environment – you name it – in the known Halo universe. That’s a lot of inspirational and argument-settling goodness.
Second, over the next month or so Peter Schlessel (who’s signed on as Producer), Parsons and I will be meeting with potential directors, and picking the best person for the job. I recently saw a list of “available and interested” candidates, and trust me: it’s an embarrassment of riches.
Definitely sounds interesting, read the whole story over at the Bungie news page through dtheatre.
How do you fans feel now?
