As an avid video gamer and movie buff, I am constantly on the lookout for interesting projects that meld the two mediums in some way. There's admittedly a spotty history where games being adapted into film is concerned, but things are changing as Hollywood accepts a youthful new guard and gaming becomes more of an everyday hobby.
One of the rising stars among Hollywood writers is Stuart Beattie. He wrote all three "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies, Michael Mann's "Collateral," Alaskan vampire comic book adaptation "30 Days of Night" and the upcoming "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra." Yeah, Beattie's star is pretty well risen at this point. He also happens to be an avid gamer, and a big fan of Bungie Studios' "Halo" series.
In an interview with Sci Fi Wire, Beattie revealed that he took it upon himself to write a spec script for a "Halo" movie during the downtime of the 2007 writer's strike. The story comes from Eric Nylund's "Fall of Reach" novel, an origin-y story which introduces most of the core elements we've seen in the games, including the background of a certain Master Chief.
"I just think it's an amazing story about this child that no one cares about and who cares for no one else, who kind of ends up saving all of humanity," Beattie said. The writer feels very strongly about this particular story and its vital place within the larger franchise. "I firmly believe that the first Halo movie needs to be the 'Fall of Reach' story, because it sets up all the characters, the world, the Covenant, the big struggle between mankind and the aliens, all that stuff."
Beattie aptly compares "Halo" and the depth of its source material to other big franchises, calling it "our generation's 'Star Wars.'" He's absolutely right when he refers to the existence of a "'Halo' nation." The intricate back story Bungie has crafted for the series opens up all sorts of possibilities, as we've already seen in various books and comics.
The trend of poorly adapted video games on film is going to change, Beattie says, as today's generation of young filmmakers become Hollywood's elder statesmen. "I think it's the same as books, [and] it's the same as comic books. I think not every video game should be made into a movie, just like not every book should be made into a movie. Not every comic book should, but certain ones definitely should, because they're so visual, the characters are so rich and the mythology is so vast that they should. Halo is definitely one of the shoulds."
With rumors floating around that "Halo: Reach" will be the title of a future game -- perhaps even the next one? -- in the series, Beattie's initiative in writing the script may just work out in his favor. Presuming that Microsoft is indeed planning to launch some sort of game based on or around Nylund's novel, a ready-made script from a talented dude -- and a passionate gamer -- like Beattie could be just the push the film project needs.
Are you a fan of Beattie's films? Are you encouraged by his words about the future of game-to-film adaptations? How do you think "Halo" might fare in a silver screen adaptation? How about "Fall of Reach" specifically?
Comments