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HALO movie up in the air again
by bootlegga on Fri Oct 20, 2006 2:16 pm
According to Variety, both Fox and Universal have backed out of plans to finance the upcoming HALO movie (2008).
It's too bad, as this will either mean a smaller budget or no movie at all. As it was, all the other major studios refused to pay what Microsoft/Garland wanted, and this was set-up as a joint production, simply because no studio wanted to take the risk of a flop, what with the huge budget and marketing costs.
Awarding Garland $10 million for the screenplay was the biggest payout in years (since Joe Estherhaus got $4 mill for Showgirls). Combined with the fact that most hit videogames don't translate into hit movies (Street Fighter, Mario Bros, etc), it looks like both studios wanted less risk, although this would be a great way to back out of a deal if they think it will be a disaster.
Quote:
Variety reports that while rumors had the studios concerned over a budget that was rising above the original projected $135 million budget, the filmmakers said the double defection came after Universal and Fox played hardball and unsuccessfully tried to get the filmmakers and Microsoft to reduce their profit participation.
The studios made the pay cut demand as a Oct. 15 deadline approached. On that day Microsoft was to have received the bulk of a promised $5 million upfront payday. The software giant also stood to receive 10% of gross for rights to the game and a script by Alex Garland.
"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," said Ken Kamins, who represents the pic's executive producers Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh. "That was the only number that was ever discussed.
"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, respectfully declined."
Kamins said Microsoft is already in talks with other distribution partners. Prep work on the film continues, he said.
The studios made the pay cut demand as a Oct. 15 deadline approached. On that day Microsoft was to have received the bulk of a promised $5 million upfront payday. The software giant also stood to receive 10% of gross for rights to the game and a script by Alex Garland.
"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," said Ken Kamins, who represents the pic's executive producers Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh. "That was the only number that was ever discussed.
"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, respectfully declined."
Kamins said Microsoft is already in talks with other distribution partners. Prep work on the film continues, he said.
It's too bad, as this will either mean a smaller budget or no movie at all. As it was, all the other major studios refused to pay what Microsoft/Garland wanted, and this was set-up as a joint production, simply because no studio wanted to take the risk of a flop, what with the huge budget and marketing costs.
Awarding Garland $10 million for the screenplay was the biggest payout in years (since Joe Estherhaus got $4 mill for Showgirls). Combined with the fact that most hit videogames don't translate into hit movies (Street Fighter, Mario Bros, etc), it looks like both studios wanted less risk, although this would be a great way to back out of a deal if they think it will be a disaster.
Just another happy Canuckistanian living under the so-called US security umbrella...yes, Im being a sarcastic bastard.
"But the Liberals did too!"
New Conservative Party slogan
"A Conservative Government is an organized hypocrisy." Benjamin Disraeli
"But the Liberals did too!"
New Conservative Party slogan
"A Conservative Government is an organized hypocrisy." Benjamin Disraeli
Comments
Re: HALO movie up in the air again
by Rihx on Fri Oct 20, 2006 7:28 pm
Thats really to bad, hopefully they work something out. The games have a great story line and would make a good movie. The biggest problem is Hollywood itself and its history of cheaping out on movies from games. A look at the Super Mario or Street Fighter movies are a prime example of this.
Keep on Rocking in the Free World!
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Recomended Reading:The Path to Serfdom, Who Killed the Canadian Military, How the Granola crunching, tree huging, thug huggers are wreking our nation.
by Rihx on Fri Oct 20, 2006 7:28 pm----
Recomended Reading:The Path to Serfdom, Who Killed the Canadian Military, How the Granola crunching, tree huging, thug huggers are wreking our nation.
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