Universal Pictures and 20th Century Fox have bailed on Peter Jackson’s big-screen adaptation of Microsoft’s hugely popular video game, Halo, casting a shadow over the would-be franchise’s future, Zap2it.com reports.
According to Daily Variety, Universal and Fox were to pay Microsoft a $5 million advance for the film rights by Oct. 15. Microsoft also stood to earn up to 10 percent of the movie’s box office gross and other related income; likewise, Jackson and his team were due to receive a hefty upfront salary and a cut of the film’s profits.
But on the eve of the deadline, amid unconfirmed reports that the film’s budget was closing in on $200 million, Universal, acting on behalf of both studios, requested Jackson take a pay cut. When he balked, the studios walked.
Microsoft said the project will go forward with Jackson and his team in place. Universal and Fox had no comment.
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The Personals page was compiled by Cheryl Bowles from Tribune news services and staff reports.
