Despite the disappointing reception of the TV adaptation of Halo, Microsoft remains undeterred in its pursuit of bringing more of its video games to the screen. Phil Spencer, the head of Microsoft's gaming division, shared with Variety that fans can look forward to more adaptations in the future. This comes just before the release of "A Minecraft Movie," a highly anticipated film adaptation of the popular Microsoft-owned game Minecraft, starring Jack Black. Should this movie succeed, it could pave the way for sequels and further solidify Microsoft's presence in the film industry.
Microsoft's foray into adapting video games for TV and film isn't new. The success of the Fallout series on Prime Video, which is already gearing up for a second season, showcases the potential of these projects. However, the Halo series, despite its significant investment, was canceled after two seasons due to poor reception.
Speaking to Variety, Spencer emphasized that Microsoft has been learning from each project. "We’re learning and growing through this process, which is giving us more confidence that we should do more," he stated. The experience with Halo and Fallout has been instrumental in building this confidence, despite some setbacks. "We learned from doing Halo. We learned from doing Fallout. So all of these build on themselves. And obviously we’ll have a couple that miss. But what I’d say to the Xbox community that likes this work is, ‘You’re going to see more, because we’re gaining confidence and we’re learning through this.’"
As Microsoft continues to explore its vast library of games for potential adaptations, speculation abounds on what could be next. In 2022, Netflix announced plans for a live-action film and an animated series based on Gears of War, though progress has been slow, with little news other than MCU star Dave Bautista's interest in playing Marcus Fenix.
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Given the success of Fallout, could Prime Video be interested in adapting another Bethesda game, like The Elder Scrolls or Skyrim? Although Amazon already has fantasy series like The Rings of Power and The Wheel of Time, the appeal of these iconic games could still be tempting.
Sony's success with the Gran Turismo movie suggests that Microsoft might consider a Forza Horizon film. With Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the possibilities expand further. Could we see a Call of Duty movie or another attempt at a Warcraft adaptation? Reporter Jason Schreier's book, "Play Nice: The Rise, Fall, and Future of Blizzard Entertainment," mentioned that Activision Blizzard had projects in development with Netflix for Warcraft, Overwatch, and Diablo, which didn't come to fruition. Perhaps Microsoft could revive these initiatives.
For a more family-friendly audience, Microsoft now owns Crash Bandicoot, which could be perfect for an animated movie or series, following the success of Mario and Sonic films. The upcoming reboot of Fable in 2026 might also inspire an adaptation.
And could Microsoft give Halo another chance, this time as a big-budget movie?
Microsoft's competitors, Sony and Nintendo, have made significant strides in this area. Sony has enjoyed success with the Uncharted movie, HBO's The Last of Us, and even Twisted Metal, which is set for a second season. Sony has also announced adaptations for Helldivers 2, Horizon Zero Dawn, and Ghost of Tsushima, with the God of War TV show slated for two seasons.
Nintendo, meanwhile, boasts the most successful video game adaptation with The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which is set to have a sequel, along with a live-action adaptation of The Legend of Zelda.
