Microsoft's clout is stamped all over the increasing amount of news about the forthcoming film, which is due to enter production soon. Not only will a director of Uwe Boll's calibre not be directing, but 20th Century Fox and Universal appear to be taking the film very seriously indeed. will have a significant role in creative input, whilst Redmond will quality approve the flick in ways that put off most of the major studios. That said, they have provided a promising source material, through Alex Garland's (The Beach) million-dollar script. Fans of the game will be even more excited to learn the latest on the project from Amsterdam's event, then, at which it was revealed director Peter Jackson will be serving as executive producer on the project alongside Fran Walsh.

Mary Parent, Scott Stuber and Peter Schlessel have also been confirmed as producers of the movie, and with such a high-profile team installed, Halo fans can feel confident that the licence won't be destroyed with this cinematic adaptation.

"As a gaming fan, I'm excited to bring Halo's premise, and settings to the screen with all the specificity and reality today's technology can provide," commented Jackson. "Fran and I are intrigued by the unique challenges this project offers, and we're delighted to be working again with our friends at Universal, and with our new ones at Fox and Microsoft. I'm a huge fan of the game and look forward to helping it come alive on the cinema screen."

Jackson and Walsh's company WingNut Films will act as consultants throughout the creation of the film, and this is the first time the pair have fulfilled such a role in a film Jackson isn't directing. Weta Digital and Weta Workshop will provide the models, creatures and visual effects, having previously cut their teeth on The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Halo will be filmed entirely in New Zealand.

"Peter Jackson is one of Hollywood's most exciting innovators, and our partnership with him will greatly broaden the appeal of the Halo franchise," big cheese Bill Gates commented. "We're confident he'll create an epic that not only thrills existing Halo fans, but also introduces millions of moviegoers around the world to this amazing saga." More soon.

By Luke Guttridge