Variety reports on a rather unique series of script deliveries that occured out in Tinseltown yesterday. Microsoft had several delivery guys dressed up in full "battle chief" armor to deliver their proposed screenplay for a "Halo" movie. The screenplay, written by Alex Garland ("28 Days Later"), is apparently up to the highest bidder — although New Line, DreamWorks, and Sony have already passed on the project.
The "Halo" honchos are asking $10 million for the rights to make the film, and whichever studio snatches the project will remain beholden to approval from the "Halo" creators: "Winning studio would have to follow a "bible" created by game developers to 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 for the Xbox."
The "master chief" delivery soldiers were ordered to remain in their respective lobbies, unable to return to Home Base without the sceenplay safely in hand. Needless to say, this is a massive property, given that the two "Halo"games have grossed over $600 million in sales.
