A fleet of messengers dressed as Master Chief swooped on Hollywood on Monday, trying to sell the Halo movie script to the highest bidder.The script alone could go for $4 million, and that's the least of Microsoft's demands - in addition the studio that takes up the movie will have to fork out a $10 million advance, 15% of the gross earnings and provide a $75 million below-the-line budget (this is a fee the studio would have to pay before hiring actors or a director).
In addition to these, the studio will have to hand over strict development control to Bungie, and strictly follow a "Halo Bible" that will "make sure any changes to the script don't alter the universe established in the first two Halo games that will continue in future sequels".
I'm not expert on the kinds of demands Hollywood studios usually have to agree to, but by all accounts a lot of studios have passed on the script altogether because these demands are too high.
Another interesting piece of information is the schedule for release - the studios only had until late Monday to make a bid, and kotaku reports that Microsoft want the movie in production by this September.
Gamespot speculate this would mean a summer 2006 release - in line with the release of Halo 3 and a thunder-stealing double blow to the Playstation 3 launch.
Related:
Microsoft hawking Halo script for $10m
Slashdot: Halo Script Hawked To Studios
Halo 3 parrying PlayStation 3 launch (15 May)
TheStencil.com: Master Chief Is A Billionaire
Variety.com: 'Halo' stomps into studios (Free reg. req)
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