20th Century Fox and Universal Pictures are teaming to make a feature film adaptation of the Microsoft video game "Halo" says Reuters. Negotiations are still under way as of Thursday night, but under the deal Universal will take domestic rights and Fox will handle international on the project.
The deal -- based on a script by "28 Days Later" scribe Alex Garland -- caused a stir earlier in the week when CAA sent it out via a messenger clad in a "Halo"-esque green costume. The deal came bearing some pretty stiff terms, including a two-hour bidding period and demands for $10 million against 15% of the gross and a start of production by January.
Those strict terms, plus a script that has been described with various terms ranging from "richly complex" to "underwhelming," contributed to some apparently lukewarm responses from many of the studios who read it.
This would explain why that upfront monetary figure has apparently fallen to around $5 million and the 'January' start date requirement will be shifted to a more flexible "in theatres by 2007 demand. Universal is barreling forward with a deal that would divide the pic's cost on a 50/50 basis between the two studios.
Thanks to 'Rabbit'.
