Despite the less-than-stellar reception of the TV adaptation of Halo, Microsoft remains undeterred in its pursuit of turning its video game franchises into movies and TV shows. This determination was highlighted by Microsoft gaming chief Phil Spencer in a recent interview with Variety, just before the launch of A Minecraft Movie, a highly anticipated film adaptation of the iconic sandbox game Minecraft, starring Jack Black. The success of this movie could potentially lead to a series of sequels, further expanding Microsoft's footprint in the entertainment industry.
Microsoft's venture into adapting its video games for the screen isn't new. The company has seen both triumphs and setbacks in this arena. The Prime Video series Fallout, for instance, has been a resounding success, with a second season already in the works. On the other hand, the TV adaptation of Halo, despite its high budget, was canceled after two seasons due to poor reception.
Speaking to Variety, Spencer emphasized that Microsoft has been learning from these experiences, which is boosting their confidence to explore more adaptations. "We’re learning and growing through this process, which is giving us more confidence that we should do more," he stated. He acknowledged that while some projects may not succeed, the overall experience is building a foundation for future endeavors. "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.’"
The next big question is which Xbox game Microsoft might adapt next. 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, with only occasional mentions from actor Dave Bautista expressing interest in playing Marcus Fenix.
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Speculation is rife about what could be next. Given the success of Fallout, could Prime Video be interested in an Elder Scrolls or Skyrim TV show? However, with Amazon already investing heavily in fantasy with The Rings of Power and The Wheel of Time, they might feel they have this genre covered.
Sony's success with the Gran Turismo movie might inspire Microsoft to greenlight a Forza Horizon movie. Additionally, with Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, there's potential for a Call of Duty movie or another attempt at adapting Warcraft. Jason Schreier's book Play Nice: The Rise, Fall, and Future of Blizzard Entertainment revealed that Activision Blizzard had series in development with Netflix for Warcraft, Overwatch, and Diablo, though these projects never came to fruition. Could Microsoft revive these?
For a more family-friendly option, Microsoft now owns Crash Bandicoot, which could be perfect for an animated movie or TV series, especially following the success of Mario and Sonic on the big screen. The upcoming reboot of Fable in 2026 also presents an exciting opportunity for adaptation.
Finally, despite the failure of the Halo TV series, could Microsoft attempt a big-budget movie version of the franchise?
Microsoft's console rivals, Sony and Nintendo, are further along in this process. Sony has seen success with the Uncharted movie, HBO's The Last of Us, and even Twisted Metal is set for a second season. Sony has also announced a Helldivers 2 movie, a movie 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, on the other hand, boasts the most successful video game adaptation to date with The Super Mario Bros. Movie, with a sequel and a live-action The Legend of Zelda adaptation in development.
