Despite the disappointing reception of the TV adaptation of Halo, Microsoft remains undeterred in its pursuit of bringing more of its video game franchises to the screen. Phil Spencer, the head of Microsoft gaming, has confirmed to Variety that fans can anticipate further adaptations in the future. This statement comes on the heels of the upcoming release of "A Minecraft Movie," a cinematic adaptation of the popular Microsoft-owned game Minecraft, starring Jack Black. The success of this film could pave the way for sequels, adding to the growing list of Microsoft's video game adaptations.
Microsoft's journey into media adaptations has seen mixed results. The highly acclaimed Fallout series on Prime Video, which is set to return for a second season, stands in stark contrast to the less successful Halo series, which was canceled after two seasons. Spencer emphasized that Microsoft is learning from these experiences, gaining confidence, and is committed to expanding its presence in the entertainment industry.
"We're learning and growing through this process, which is giving us more confidence that we should do more," Spencer told Variety. He acknowledged the lessons learned from both Halo and Fallout, indicating that these experiences are building blocks for future projects. "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.’"
Looking ahead, speculation abounds about which Xbox game might be next in line for adaptation. In 2022, Netflix announced plans for a live-action film and an animated series based on Gears of War, though updates have been sparse, with only occasional mentions from actor Dave Bautista expressing interest in playing Marcus Fenix.
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Given the success of Fallout, there's speculation that Prime Video might consider an Elder Scrolls/Skyrim TV show. However, with Amazon already producing fantasy series like The Rings of Power and The Wheel of Time, they might feel their fantasy slate is full. Sony's successful Gran Turismo movie suggests that Microsoft might consider a Forza Horizon film.
With Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, there's potential for a Call of Duty movie or another attempt at a Warcraft adaptation. Jason Schreier's book, "Play Nice: The Rise, Fall, and Future of Blizzard Entertainment," revealed that Netflix had been developing series for Warcraft, Overwatch, and Diablo, which were later abandoned. Microsoft could potentially revive these projects.
On a lighter note, Microsoft now owns Crash Bandicoot, which could be ripe for an animated movie or TV series, especially following the success of Mario and Sonic films. The upcoming reboot of Fable in 2026 might also be a candidate for adaptation.
Finally, there's the question of whether Microsoft might give Halo another chance, this time as a big-budget movie.
Microsoft's competitors, Sony and Nintendo, are further along in their adaptation efforts. Sony has enjoyed success with the Uncharted movie, HBO's The Last of Us, and the upcoming second season of Twisted Metal. Sony has also announced adaptations for Helldivers 2, Horizon Zero Dawn, and Ghost of Tsushima, with the God of War TV show already confirmed for two seasons.
Nintendo, meanwhile, boasts the most successful video game adaptation to date with The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which is set to have a sequel, alongside a live-action adaptation of The Legend of Zelda.
