The less-than-stellar reception of the TV adaptation of Halo hasn't deterred Microsoft from exploring more adaptations of its video games. Microsoft's gaming chief, Phil Spencer, confirmed to Variety that fans should expect more projects in the future. This statement comes ahead of the much-anticipated release of "A Minecraft Movie," a big-screen adaptation featuring Jack Black, based on the popular Microsoft-owned sandbox game Minecraft. Should this movie succeed, it could pave the way for sequels.
Microsoft's foray into adaptations isn't new. It follows the highly successful "Fallout" series on Prime Video, with Season 2 already in the works. However, the TV adaptation of Microsoft's flagship Xbox game, Halo, didn't fare as well and was canceled after two seasons that were met with criticism.
Despite the Halo setback, Microsoft is learning and gaining confidence in the adaptation space, as Phil Spencer shared with Variety. "We’re learning and growing through this process, which is giving us more confidence that we should do more," Spencer stated. He emphasized the importance of learning from both successes like Fallout and challenges like Halo, saying, "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 for what Xbox game could be next in line for an adaptation, speculation abounds. In 2022, Netflix announced plans for a live-action film and an animated TV series based on "Gears of War," though updates have been sparse, except for MCU star Dave Bautista's interest in playing Marcus Fenix.
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Speculation on potential adaptations is rife. Given the success of Fallout, could Prime Video be interested in an Elder Scrolls/Skyrim TV show? However, with shows like "The Rings of Power" and "The Wheel of Time," Amazon might feel its fantasy slate is full.
Sony's "Gran Turismo" movie defied expectations and succeeded, prompting the question: could Microsoft greenlight a "Forza Horizon" movie?
Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard opens up possibilities for adaptations like a "Call of Duty" movie or another attempt at a "Warcraft" film. Jason Schreier's book "Play Nice: The Rise, Fall, and Future of Blizzard Entertainment" revealed that Activision Blizzard had been working on series with Netflix for "Warcraft," "Overwatch," and "Diablo," but these projects didn't materialize. Could Microsoft revive them?
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 similar projects like Mario and Sonic. Additionally, with "Fable" set for a reboot in 2026, an adaptation could be in the cards.
Lastly, could Microsoft give Halo another shot, this time with a big-budget movie?
Microsoft's console rivals, Sony and Nintendo, are further ahead in this arena. Sony has seen success with the "Uncharted" movie, HBO's "The Last of Us," and even "Twisted Metal" is gearing up for a Season 2. Sony has also announced a "Helldivers 2" movie, a film adaptation of "Horizon Zero Dawn," and an anime adaptation of "Ghost of Tsushima." The "God of War" TV show is already planned for two seasons.
Nintendo boasts the most successful video game adaptation to date with "The Super Mario Bros. Movie," and a sequel is in development alongside a live-action "The Legend of Zelda" adaptation.
