The underwhelming reception of the TV adaptation of Halo hasn't deterred Microsoft from exploring further adaptations of its beloved video game franchises. Phil Spencer, the head of Microsoft Gaming, confirmed to Variety that fans can anticipate more adaptations in the future. This statement comes just ahead of the release of "A Minecraft Movie," a cinematic adaptation of the iconic sandbox game Minecraft, which stars Jack Black and holds high expectations for potential sequels.
Microsoft's journey into multimedia adaptations includes the highly successful "Fallout" series on Prime Video, which is already set for a second season. However, the Halo TV series, despite its significant investment, was canceled after two seasons due to poor reception. Spencer emphasized that Microsoft is learning from these experiences and gaining confidence in the realm of adaptations.
"We're learning and growing through this process, which is giving us more confidence that we should do more," Spencer told Variety. He highlighted that each project, whether it's Halo or Fallout, contributes to their understanding and approach to future adaptations. "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. Netflix had previously announced a live-action film and an animated series based on "Gears of War," although progress has been slow. MCU star Dave Bautista has expressed interest in playing Marcus Fenix in a potential adaptation.
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Given the success of "Fallout," Prime Video might consider an adaptation of "The Elder Scrolls" or "Skyrim." However, with existing fantasy series like "The Rings of Power" and "The Wheel of Time," Amazon may feel their fantasy slate is already full. Sony's success with the "Gran Turismo" movie suggests that a "Forza Horizon" adaptation could be on Microsoft's radar.
Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard opens up possibilities for adaptations of "Call of Duty" or a new attempt at a "Warcraft" movie. According to Jason Schreier's book "Play Nice: The Rise, Fall, and Future of Blizzard Entertainment," Activision Blizzard had previously worked on series for "Warcraft," "Overwatch," and "Diablo" with Netflix, which did not come to fruition. Microsoft might be the key to reviving these projects.
On a lighter note, Microsoft's ownership of "Crash Bandicoot" could lead to an animated movie or TV series, following the success of "Mario" and "Sonic" adaptations. The upcoming reboot of "Fable" in 2026 could also be a candidate for adaptation. Additionally, there's speculation about Microsoft giving "Halo" another chance, this time as a big-budget movie.
Microsoft's competitors, Sony and Nintendo, have made significant strides in this arena. Sony has enjoyed 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 series for "Ghost of Tsushima," with "God of War" already slated for two seasons.
Nintendo, meanwhile, boasts the highest-grossing video game adaptation with "The Super Mario Bros. Movie," which is set to have a sequel. They are also working on a live-action adaptation of "The Legend of Zelda."
