In reporting on an upcoming live-action web series designed to tie into the release of Microsoft’s highly anticipated Halo 4 video-game–the “largest investment” the company has made in live-action yet–Variety has obtained intel that the project may lead to an attempt to revive the Halo feature film concept.

Buried in the article is the following critical piece of reporting:

Microsoft considers the Web series “the next step” for the franchise as an entertainment property that could eventually lead to a theatrical feature — after the plug on one was pulled by Universal and Fox that [District 9‘s Neil] Blomkamp was to direct and Peter Jackson to produce in 2005.

That means the hope of a Halo blockbuster playing megaplexes in the future is not dead. The idea, which would undoubtedly add hundreds of millions to the existing $2 billion franchise, is still very much alive.

But given the project’s sordid history with Jackson and Blomkamp–several years of looking like it was a go, only to hit last-minute snafus–interviewee Matt McCloskey, director of franchise business management at 343 Industries (the company taking over Halo from Bungie Studios), remained cautiously optimistic:

I don’t think anybody needs any reminding of [the potential for a feature film]. Everyone keeps reminding us of that.

For more news on the upcoming web series and the game itself, head over to…

Source: Variety