Showtime’s live-action Halo series has been in development for a while, with Steven Spielberg attached as executive producer and Neill Blomkamp rumored to direct the pilot. Now we have news that the series has found its director with Otto Bathurst (Black Mirror, Robin Hood).
Along with directing several episodes, Bathurst will be serving as executive producer with Kyle Killen (Awake) attached as writer, executive producer and showrunner.
The Halo series is based on the Xbox video game franchise starring Master Chief. Showtime and Steven Spielberg’s Ablin Television are producing the show in partnership with 343 Industries. Principal photography is expected to start later in the year, with an initial order of nine episodes.
Rupert Wyatt (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) was originally attached to direct and executive produce when it was revealed in June, with shooting beginning in early this year. However, the project got delayed when he left the project in December. With a few months of searching, the show has decided on Bathurst.
The Halo series was announced in 2013 during the Xbox One announcement in Redmond, Washington, with Microsoft’s president of entertainment and digital media Nancy Tellem present.
“TV on the Xbox One will immerse you, allowing you to virtually jump into the action,” Tellem said. “It’s truly personalized. It will provide recommendations with amazing precision. It’s truly social. Xbox is about to become the next water cooler. And this is only Act One.”
“The Halo universe is an amazing opportunity to be at an intersection where technology and myth-making converge,” Spielberg added.
Well, Xbox Entertainment Studios closed in 2014, and that meant the show would go elsewhere. It then went to Showtime instead of being exclusive to the Xbox. Sony tried having its own exclusive series for PlayStation called Powers, but that was canceled after only two seasons with mixed reviews and low viewership. If the Halo series was still exclusive to Xbox, it could still do wonders since it’s a popular franchise with top talent.
The first Halo game was developed by Bungie (Destiny) and followed Master Chief as he joins the fight against the Covenant, a group of alien species hellbent on destroying humanity. It has spawned many sequels with 343 Industries ultimately taking over as the developer.
Via Deadline
The post Showtime’s Halo series finds its director, Otto Bathurst appeared first on Nerd Reactor.
from Nerd Reactor
0 comments: