Microsoft has quietly put the finishing touches on a million-dollar deal to hire Alex Garland, writer of Danny Boyle’s “28 Days Later” and “The Beach,” to adapt the games into one movie, according to Variety.
Garland’s screenplay will then be offered to studios as a complete “turnkey” script and rights package – ensuring the company and filmmakers have control over the direction the film will take in its initial stages. Microsoft isn’t expected to be involved beyond script development and consultation on the production, and it’s unclear what kind of a deal Microsoft will seek once a script is completed.
The Halo franchise is one of the most popular in vidgame history, having sold over 12.8 million units and grossed approximately $600 million since its 2001 debut. Last year’s sequel game has sold 6.4 million units thus far and was the second best-selling game of the year, outmatched only by Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
Credit: Darkhorizons.com
