Tagged With: Universal

Fox and Universal have finalized their deal with Microsoft to turn hit videogame HALO into a feature film for release summer 2007, according to VARIETY. As part of the deal, the studios will dole out $5 million against 10% of the gross to the house that Bill Gates built.

Universal will handle production and domestic distribution with Fox covering foreign distribution and will split revenues 50/50.

Universal and THE BOURNE SUPREMACY director Paul Greengrass will make 9/11 inspired feature, FLIGHT 93 with production set to start October 1, according to VARIETY. Working Title Films partners Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner will produce.

The $15 million film will run in realtime chronicling the takeoff and hijacking of United Airlines Flight 93 by terrorists. The drama will follow the discovery of the passengers that other planes had been hijacked and crashed into buildings and their decision to take over the plane themselves.

Marking the first major milestone for Universal's newly formed family entertainment label, Universal Studios Home Ent. Family Prods. (USHEFP) announced that it has commenced production on 26 episodes of a new animated TV series, THE LAND BEFORE TIME. The series is slated to debut on Cartoon Network in 2007 and will be subsequently distributed on DVD by Universal.

Universal has bought the film rights to Sony Computer Ent.s videogame GOD OF WAR, reports VARIETY. Mosaic Media Group's Charles Roven and Alex Gartner are set to produce.

Taking place in ancient Greece, the story follows the adventures of the warrior Kratos, who battles mythological creatures like Medusa, Cyclops and the Hydra while along his quest to discover Pandora's Box and destroy Ares, the god of war.

Released in March to much acclaim, the game was created by David Jaffe and Shannon Studstill.

Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Pictures jointly announced that the upcoming film being directed by three-time Academy Award-winning director-producer Steven Spielberg will be titled MUNICH.

BUFFY star Sarah Michelle Gellar and director Marcus Nispel (THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE remake) have signed on for the film adaptation of American McGees videogame ALICE for Universal Pictures, reports VARIETY. Collision Ent. originally secured the rights to the game, which then when to joint venture partner Dimension after their partnership was ended. Dimension shopped the project, which landed at Universal. Electronic Arts is the publisher of the game.

20th Century Fox and Universal Pictures have taken the bid from Microsoft to produce a feature film adaptation of videogame HALO, reports VARIETY. The final details are still being hammered out, but for certain Universal will handle domestic rights with Fox taking international.

Namco Hometek has secured the gaming rights to CURIOUS GEORGE from Universal Studios Consumer Products Group, according to HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.

The game titles will be associated with Universal Pictures and Imagine Ent.'s animated feature film, based on the books by H. A. and Margret Rey. Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Jon Shapiro and David Kirschner produced the film, which will arrive in theaters Feb. 10, 2006.

Universal has secured the film rights to the young adult fantasy novel series OUTCAST, reports VARIETY. Charlie Mitchell (forthcoming THE CHILDREN OF THE DUST BOWL) has been hired to adapt the screenplay. Additionally, Mitchell will produce along with Donaldson/Sanders' Peter Donaldson and Circle of Confusion's Jason Lust.