The underwhelming reception of the TV adaptation of Halo has not deterred Microsoft from pursuing further adaptations of its video game franchises. Phil Spencer, the head of Microsoft Gaming, has confirmed that fans should anticipate more adaptations in the future. This statement comes ahead of the release of "A Minecraft Movie," a cinematic adaptation of the popular sandbox game Minecraft, starring Jack Black. High expectations surround this film, and its success could pave the way for sequels.
Microsoft's venture into video game adaptations includes the highly successful "Fallout" series on Prime Video, which is already slated for a second season. However, the Halo TV series faced cancellation after two seasons due to poor reception, despite its significant budget.
Speaking to Variety, Spencer emphasized that Microsoft is learning from these experiences and gaining confidence in the entertainment space. He stated, "We’re learning and growing through this process, which is giving us more confidence that we should do more. 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 on which Xbox game might be next for adaptation. In 2022, Netflix announced plans for a live-action film and an animated TV series based on "Gears of War," though updates have been scarce, aside from actor Dave Bautista's interest in playing Marcus Fenix.
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Given the success of "Fallout," there's speculation that Prime Video might be interested in adapting "The Elder Scrolls" or "Skyrim" into a TV show. However, with Amazon already having "The Rings of Power" and "The Wheel of Time," they might feel their fantasy genre is well-covered.
Sony's success with the "Gran Turismo" movie suggests that Microsoft might consider a "Forza Horizon" film. Additionally, Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard opens possibilities 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," mentioned that Netflix had projects in development for "Warcraft," "Overwatch," and "Diablo," which fell through. Microsoft could potentially revive these projects.
On a lighter note, Microsoft's ownership of the "Crash Bandicoot" franchise could lead to an animated movie or TV series, especially given the recent success of similar family-friendly adaptations like "Mario" and "Sonic." The upcoming reboot of "Fable" in 2026 might also be ripe for adaptation.
There's also the question of whether Microsoft might attempt another adaptation of "Halo," possibly in the form of a big-budget movie.
Microsoft's competitors, Sony and Nintendo, are further along in their adaptation efforts. Sony has seen success with "Uncharted," HBO's "The Last of Us," and "Twisted Metal," which is set for a second season. Sony has also announced adaptations for "Helldivers 2," "Horizon Zero Dawn," and an anime version of "Ghost of Tsushima," with the "God of War" TV show already planned for two seasons.
Nintendo boasts the most successful video game adaptation with "The Super Mario Bros. Movie," which is getting a sequel, alongside a live-action "The Legend of Zelda" adaptation.
