Karl
June 10th, 2005, 7:02:16 PM
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050610/film_nm/media_halo_dc
Microsoft nears movie deal for 'Halo' videogame
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. was near a deal on Friday to sell the rights to make a movie based on hit video game series "Halo" after a recent round of Hollywood talks in which a high asking price and demands for creative input drew the ire of some parties, sources said.
The bidding for a movie based on "Halo" and "Halo 2," a science fiction series about a warrior named Master Chief who battles aliens, began on Monday when a script commissioned by Microsoft was delivered to Hollywood studios by messengers wearing Master Chief green armor and toting laser guns.
Represented by Creative Artists Agency, Microsoft sought an unusually high upfront payment of $10 million plus 15 percent of initial gross box office sales, which led several studios to drop out of talks, according to sources near the deal-making.
Universal Pictures and Twentieth Century Fox teamed up to make the winning offer that calls for an initial payment of $5 million plus 10 percent of initial box office receipts, sources said, although they cautioned that final details may change.
A formal announcement is likely next week after creative issues are hammered out between the studios and Microsoft.
Fox declined to comment and Universal said it did not discuss pending deals.
Microsoft spokesman Carlos de Leon would not confirm financial details nor would Creative Artists, but the deal is notable for several reasons.
Typically a Hollywood studio or producer might spot a hot game, comic, or story and buy the film rights. The studio or producer would hire a writer, then seek financial partners......
Microsoft nears movie deal for 'Halo' videogame
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. was near a deal on Friday to sell the rights to make a movie based on hit video game series "Halo" after a recent round of Hollywood talks in which a high asking price and demands for creative input drew the ire of some parties, sources said.
The bidding for a movie based on "Halo" and "Halo 2," a science fiction series about a warrior named Master Chief who battles aliens, began on Monday when a script commissioned by Microsoft was delivered to Hollywood studios by messengers wearing Master Chief green armor and toting laser guns.
Represented by Creative Artists Agency, Microsoft sought an unusually high upfront payment of $10 million plus 15 percent of initial gross box office sales, which led several studios to drop out of talks, according to sources near the deal-making.
Universal Pictures and Twentieth Century Fox teamed up to make the winning offer that calls for an initial payment of $5 million plus 10 percent of initial box office receipts, sources said, although they cautioned that final details may change.
A formal announcement is likely next week after creative issues are hammered out between the studios and Microsoft.
Fox declined to comment and Universal said it did not discuss pending deals.
Microsoft spokesman Carlos de Leon would not confirm financial details nor would Creative Artists, but the deal is notable for several reasons.
Typically a Hollywood studio or producer might spot a hot game, comic, or story and buy the film rights. The studio or producer would hire a writer, then seek financial partners......