If you’ve been on the scene long enough to remember those Halo LAN parties from the days of the original Xbox, then odds are you’ve been waiting for a substantial live action adaptation for quite some time. I mean, we’ve had various web series and the comedic Red vs. Blue to digest in the time since, but that doesn’t change the fact that a major motion picture or a network TV series have eluded us.
In fact, there’s been word that Showtime was ready to give gamers their reward for some time, but aside from progress reports here and there, there hasn’t been anything too concrete to speak of. Fortunately, that all changes today.
As it turns out, Kyle Killen (Awake) will help spearhead the 10-episode, one-hour drama for Showtime, with Rupert Wyatt (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) being hired to direct multiple episodes and executive produce. Additionally, Killen will also serve as writer, executive producer and showrunner, with Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Television backing the project. CBS Studios International will handle global distribution.
Here’s what David Nevins, President and CEO Showtime Networks, had to say about all this:
“Halo is our most ambitious series ever, and we expect audiences who have been anticipating it for years to be thoroughly rewarded. In the history of television, there simply has never been enough great science fiction. Kyle Killen’s scripts are thrilling, expansive and provocative, Rupert Wyatt is a wonderful, world-building director, and their vision of Halo will enthrall fans of the game while also drawing the uninitiated into a world of complex characters that populate this unique universe.”
Cameras are expected to begin rolling on Halo sometime in early 2019, so we’ll keep you posted when it comes to the announcement of a premiere date. And considering that this series will call Showtime its home, chances are it’ll be able to stay true to its M-rated video game roots.
