Back in May last year Microsoft announced the live-action Halo TV series that will be produced with Steven Spielberg’s Amblin TV. It has nearly been an year since the official announcement and not much has been revealed. A new report claims that Microsoft is in talks with Showtime for distribution. Both companies are said to be in “deep negotiations.”
Earlier this week Microsoft conducted an event focused on its original programming plans. While Xbox Entertainment Studios head Nancy Tellem did talk about plans for Halo and other original series she didn’t say anything about a deal with Showtime.
Variety reports that the Xbox Studios is going to develop Halo as a high-end series production primary to grow its Xbox platform as an entertainment service. Reportedly the deal between Showtime and Microsoft is taking so long because its unchartered territory for both. It is said that episodes will first air on Showtime before they’re made available on Xbox. Though viewers on Microsoft’s platform will be rewarded with “enhanced interactivity” in episodes.
It is possible that Microsoft may have more to talk about its live-action Halo TV series at E3 2014, it didn’t elaborate much at the recent event. One thing is for sure though, Microsoft is very serious about original programming for Xbox, which it wants to push as an entertainment platform as well as a powerful gaming machine.