Master Chief: A supporting role in Halo movie

by Dustin Burg { Jan 16th 2008 at 12:00PM }

Talking with Newsweek's N'Gai Croal, Joseph Staten (Halo writer to the stars) uncharacteristically opened up about the now stalled Halo movie and talked about how Master Chief was set to be a ... supporting character? Twah?

N'Gai Croal bluntly asked Staten if there where issues with Master Chief wearing a helmet in the movie and how it would affect the emotional connection between viewer and our Chief. Staten agreed that the mystery surrounding Master Chief posed problems in translating the story to film and confirmed that in the final Halo movie script, Master Chief was to be "the most important supporting cast member". Bungie didn't feel that Chief could be the main character of a movie due to his emotional restrictions and because it would put limitations on the story they wanted to tell. Though, Staten did mention that Master Chief would be "absolutely critical to the film" in moving the story along and would be a perfect "anonymous problem solver" for the film. Just all the focus wouldn't be put on him.

So fanboys, what do you think? We fully understand that the Halo movie probably won't see the light of day for years and years to come, but we are torn apart by the fact that Master Chief wouldn't be the main character. Would you rather see a shoot-em-up, Master Chief focused explosion fest-o-fun or a more character focused story that is geared towards the Halo universe rather than the Chief himself? Discuss.

Tags: bungie, bungie-studios, halo, halo-movie

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Heretic @ Jan 16th 2008 12:07PM

Call me sexist, but as long as the main character isn't a chick I'm cool with it.

Wilson @ Jan 16th 2008 12:24PM

Sexist.

lol

Bravo6 @ Jan 16th 2008 12:10PM

Makes sense to me.

wei @ Jan 16th 2008 12:11PM

I think that actually would've been a good thing to see the Halo universe from a different perspective. But that's just me.

USMC BEANS @ Jan 16th 2008 12:12PM

Boba Fett was a masked, unemotional character and turned out to be a fan favorite. If they want emotion and faces then they should make the movie out of "The Fall of Reach" book. Then you would get to see their faces and their training and all that. I just hope the movie won't be about some random space Marines who just run into the Spartans every once in a while.

Tom @ Jan 16th 2008 12:41PM

Boba Fett wasnt the main character for a reason though

brianjcarroll @ Jan 16th 2008 12:46PM

Fett wasn't a main character, but VADER certainly was. So was V in V for Vendetta, and he was an awesome character. There are plenty of masked characters in movies that were really kick ass and conveyed emotion. They probably couldn't get a good enough actor to do so.

JakubK666 @ Jan 16th 2008 1:02PM

Yeah but I don't remember Vader saying something like ten lines for every movie.

Brian @ Jan 16th 2008 3:19PM

Yea, it worked for V for Vendetta, too.

(But that script was drop dead amazing. I doubt Halo would recieve the same writing treatment)

Will @ Jan 16th 2008 12:13PM

Interesting, but it does make sense.

Dadidito @ Jan 16th 2008 12:14PM

If you read the books, especially Ghosts of Onyx you can see how this approach would work in the movies. The Halo universe at least book wise is pretty deep and the characters are deep enough to work as main characters.

Samuel Vimes @ Jan 16th 2008 12:18PM

Sorry but if I want to see Master Chief for 2 hours I will play halo. Just because tons of little fanboys want to dry hump Master Chief doesn't mean the entire movie has to be focused on him. When you pick up Halo the game isn't nothing but a Master Chief fest. There's more to the story and world. If it was dedicated strictly to Master Chief it would not be called Halo but....Master Chief. Anyone who thinks otherwise deserves to be casted into the abyss.

F0EHammer @ Jan 16th 2008 2:34PM

I agree. A "shoot-em-up, Master Chief focused explosion fest-o-fun" makes a great FPS, but a crappy movie.

AnOffday @ Jan 16th 2008 12:18PM

Eh sounds like crap to me. Halo is Master Chief. And Master Chief is Halo. You can't do one without the other. I want to know what happens to him.

BigDaddyBooth @ Jan 16th 2008 12:39PM

I disagree with this comment. Halo is most certainly not Master Chief. I, for one, don't feel like watching two hours of movie from just the Chief's perspective. Plus, I hope they don't unmask Master Chief...If I have to watch The Rock play my favorite spartan, my head will explode!

Etchasketchist @ Jan 16th 2008 2:32PM

I think in narrative terms, over the entire series, the Halo games are actually all about the Arbiter. It's his story and the Covenant civil war that provide most of the plot points and dramatic action.

John @ Jan 16th 2008 12:20PM

I'm a writer and had hoped they'd do this, nice to see I wasn't alone.

jc @ Jan 16th 2008 12:21PM

Oh teh NOZ!!!!!!!!!

Justin @ Jan 16th 2008 12:21PM

im fine with this i guess, just as long as the main character is sgt johnson

Easo @ Jan 16th 2008 12:22PM

No sir, I dont like it. I think the emotion connection that the viewer makes with the Chief should come through his connection with Cortana. But as long as they dont focus their attention on the the love that two characters that we have never heard of before share, then im cool with it. A little pissed, but cool.

ryan @ Jan 16th 2008 12:33PM

this makes perfect sense. the chief has never been one to emote. he's sorta like a symbol of courage. fighting alongside this badass symbol of bravado is great for a main character and is great for a movie audience.

HaVoC @ Jan 16th 2008 12:33PM

I think that putting the MC in a supporting role isn’t a bad idea at all. The character of the MC is so easy to immerse yourself into with the games, putting to much of a role with the character might damage the franchise more than it would help it. And, some of the best novels involved with the “Haloverse” don’t have the MC as we know him from the games in such a major role. The thought of the Halo cannon being expanded with the Halo movie makes me want it to go into production so much more.

Carlos @ Jan 16th 2008 12:41PM

Considering that Master Chief has the personality of a rock, it makes sense, not much character development there.

BerNasty @ Jan 16th 2008 1:08PM

A rock!! Harsh, but well put. A good movie needs good character development as well as tons of action and explosions. We dont want another Doom on our hands.

Rubbinz @ Jan 16th 2008 12:43PM

Makes sense. Especially considering that the Chiefs only emotion is a smile gesture with two fingers when he runs into other blue squad Spartans.

Like Beans said, they should make the movie based on one of the books, like Fall of Reach.

ccc @ Jan 16th 2008 12:53PM

Um, I really don't care for Halo very much.
However, I was wanting to see a Peter Jackson Halo movie starring Master Chief.
To put it bluntly this choice is weak on the writers part. The only way this movie could not be a pile of shit is if Peter Jackson or Quitin Tarrentino/Robert Rodregize directed. PJ would make a stunnig film perfect to every Halo fans expectations, while QT and RR would make one bad ass funny ride that also would be sweet as hell with buckets of alien blood.
You would think Hollywood had learned there lesson with the Doom movie, unless they actually viewed that film as a success.

ryan @ Jan 16th 2008 1:11PM

hunh, seeing as you don't play Halo you probably don't understand how bad of an idea making the Chief a main character it'd be as far as movie making goes.

the Chief expresses very little and wears a helmet.
this doesn't do anything for the mass market of movie goers and Jackson fans who've not played Halo.

the Chief is more like a weapon or symbol of Humanity's war against the convenant, in short, he will not tell a convincing story as a main character.

in truth, having him as a supporting character gives him and everyone else more options as far as a script goes, ultimately making for a better movie experience.

Terminator was the star, but was he the main character? Hell NO! He supported the humans. Chief is the same.

I'll gladly play as Master Chief, but I do not want him to be a screen whore. :D

0ldb0y @ Jan 16th 2008 1:11PM

Master Chief as protagonist in a movie would almost absolutely not work. At least it wouldn't work in a non-suckery way.

How about from the perspective of an Elite? Now that would be interesting, though highly unlikely

klitchls @ Jan 16th 2008 1:12PM

I think its total crap to not have Master Chief as the main character. Who gives a crap if he's wearing a helmet the entire time? Master Chief IS Halo.

ryan @ Jan 16th 2008 1:20PM

um, no. Master Chief Supports Humanity's struggle against the Covenant. From a game standpoint it's good to play as Chief, but not from a movie viewpoint.

See: Terminator 1,2,3..etc. etc.

Robocop was a different story altogether and made sense why a Cop turned Robot seeks his humanity. it made for interesting story telling.

Master Chief is just a soldier from the day he was born practically. He is a weapon for the humans to use, he SUPPORTS!

Brodak @ Jan 16th 2008 1:19PM

Just think of the scene when Master Chief comes swooping in to save the main character's bacon....something we will all be waiting for. The characters are pinned down, all hope is lost, then over the radio, a familiar (to fans of the game) voice of reassurance, them BAM!!! the calvary charges in and the baddies are beat back.

Those uninitiated to the Haloverse will probably find it easier to connect to characters that are not nigh-unbeatable modified supersoldiers always wearing powered and shielded armor. While those who are fans will enjoy the obvious superiority of the Master Chief that will be implied by holding him apart from the main characters, as well as the awe and respect those characters will show for him.

ryan @ Jan 16th 2008 1:22PM

Exactly! Master Chief is like a Guardian Arch Angel of Badassedness who swoops in times of need.

Regardless of what people say, He is a supporting character.

Mike-453 @ Jan 16th 2008 1:21PM

The only way for the Chief's character to be deep and fully explored is if we heard his thoughts, such as in the books. But that aint gonna happen.

I have no problem with it, as long as we still see plenty of him and hear about him constantly.

Epic @ Jan 16th 2008 1:22PM

Lets be honest, the movie is hardly gonna be of Oscar quality anyway, so if i'm going to watch a halo movie that sucks' i'd rather see a sucky one where MC is the main character.

Screw what bungie think. They do games, not movies, Halo 2 and 3 are testement to that...

ccc @ Jan 16th 2008 1:22PM

I never said I didn't play Halo, I understand the entire story. This would be a chance for someone out there to make a new style of film and they back away from it going with what they think will work. There afraid to take a risk is what it boils down to. He dose talk alot to Cortana. But whats wrong with making a film where the main guy is more busy whooping ass as opposed to chit chatting all day long so people can feel a bond to him? Tell a story visualy thats what a film is supposed to be. Either way aren't the writers supposed to be on strike right now anyways?

ryan @ Jan 16th 2008 1:30PM

sorry, i misunderstood the "not into halo much" part.

but dude, he will be kicking ass. the human main characters will be there when he does said ass kicking. He'll be as supportive as The Terminator in T2.

and as far as his conversations with Cortana, it seemed like Cortana carried all the charisma in each and everyone of their conversations. the Chief was just there to agree.

again, it's "safer" to make the Chief a supportive character, but it's also a guarantee for better story telling.

erivera3 @ Jan 16th 2008 1:22PM

The statement "We fully understand that the Halo movie probably won't see the light of day for years and years to come..." is not accurate I don't think. I've read on a few sights that pre-production has been going on without a hitch, so a lot of the special effects computation and shit like that is being worked on already, and for a huge movie like this they need to get a jumpstart on that anyhow.

I completely agree that masterchief should play a huge SUPPORT role, not the main character; I want the movies to be similar to those halo short films in that we get to see some high quality action while also feeling what the soldiers feel, but masterchief must be in the movie for sure.

SuperChuck @ Jan 16th 2008 1:25PM

Indispensible supporting character? Is Master Chief the hot chick?

erivera3 @ Jan 16th 2008 1:25PM

I disagree with pretty much everything you wrote. I think this movie has potential to be great, and the innerfanboy says it COULD be one of the best movies I've ever seen when I see it. Why can't it be Oscar-worthy? The Halo story goes way deeper than any of the games can even scratch at, go read the books.

It's bungie's story; it's bungie's universe; I'd trust the experts on this one, they have done amazing things so far.

Epic @ Jan 16th 2008 1:31PM

Not with the Halo 2 and 3 storylines, especially Halo 2.

Unless Peter Jackson gets it and gets his own writers onto the job I don't see it as being one of the greats.
Just because MC is damn-near silent, doesn't mean that he should be reduced to a support role, however large. Lets not forget he has cortana in his suit too. hardly a minor character...

erivera3 @ Jan 16th 2008 1:36PM

Halo 2 and Halo 3 are video games, GREAT video games at that. The fact that they even portrayed a fraction of the story is still a huge accomplishment. An important support role doesn't make masterchief a "minor character" at all. Anyhow, we'll see what they do with it.

Epic @ Jan 16th 2008 1:43PM

Halo 2...great?...did you play the same single player as me?

Halo 3 was a lot better, but anygame with such rich storyline potential should make more of it.

I wasn't talking about MC being a minor part. I was saying that Cortana (who is in MC's suit) is hardly a minor part. She is just as key to the storyline as he is. Cheif doesn't need to talk, she can talk for him. It'll make what he does say have more of an impact as well as assing mystery.

Another alternative is to have multiple stroyline happening at once, like LOTR, that way we can have the 'human connection' as well as some hardcore MC/Covenant action.

ccc @ Jan 16th 2008 1:37PM

However they make it, the only way its gonna be epic and a piece of film history(not another doom) is if Peter Jackson gets ahold of it. Bottom line.

ryan @ Jan 16th 2008 2:00PM

agreed!

R3CKL3SS @ Jan 16th 2008 1:39PM

I just hope the turn on the IWHBYD skull!!! And I liked the idea of seeing it thru an elite's eyes or having it be like sin city where there are multiple stories going on at once.

maverick_saturn_626 @ Jan 16th 2008 1:42PM

Im not a Halo fan in the slightest. But I am a movie fan, and I seriously believe that by adding Master Chief to the movie as a main character, it would seriously suck, it would be no different from Alien, Predator, Resident Evil, Commando and other such stupid 1 man army movies.

If Micro and Bungie really wanted to add in more of an Oscar winning type movie rather then a shoot to kill type movie, they would need to make it something like Jarheads, Saving Private Ryan, Lord of the rings, something epic, something emotional, great acting, great special effects. And Master Chief in a suit that cannot be penetrated running around killing an entire race like he stupidly does in the games would be a major sucky idea on the big screen, I dunno about you Halo fans, but no Halo fans would certainly not watch that crap unless they are in a mood for a pointless Die Hard Lookalike.

The problem Bungie have created is the fact that MC is the main character, adding new chars for the movie is a bit random, they focused so heavily on MC, that its odd not seeing him or seeing him very little in the movie. Halo IS Master Chief. They might as well call the game Master Chief Chronicles or something. Only now with the books and Halo Wars are they focusing on MC less, but its too late. Games like Metal Gear have epic warriors, but have more variety in main characters, you can see snake in a movie, but you could take him out just as easily and add Raiden or Boss, or Ocelot. Halo has so few other characters on par with MC its weird seeing them on the big screen instead of MC.

Anywho, good luck to Bungie, hope they make a wise choice, which ever path they choose to take will determine how this movie performs should it ever come out in future. This makes me worried about the Gears movie, I see a doom lookalike.

Mike-453 @ Jan 16th 2008 3:49PM

In my opinion, mindless action can still make good movies, good entertainment. Though that would be it, entertaining.

Mike-453 @ Jan 16th 2008 3:53PM

And.....Halo isn't Master Chief, to simple fanboys maybe, but to me Master Chief is simply a tool of humanity, a weapon. Whenever a 'fan' says Master Chief IS Halo it just seems stupid. (i know you've said you're not a halo fan)

But heh, there is only Bungie to blame for making the MC the only noticable character for fans of the games, them and their way of showing the games from the perspective of one soldier.