After the news last week that Universal and Fox have backed out of their deal with Microsoft to make Halo a movie, the whole project seems in doubt. Microsoft and their partners over at Bungie however, remain optimistic.

Bungie has posted a response to the pullout of their partners on their official site. The bulk of it is a carefully worded bunch of mediaspeak from their parent company Microsoft:

"We are disappointed that Universal and Fox wanted to significantly renegotiate the financial points of the deal. But the Halo franchise is hugely popular and our goal remains the same - to find a partner that shares our passion and will creatively collaborate with us to best represent the story and spirit of the Halo franchise. Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and the rest of the creative team are dedicated to ensuring the Halo movie becomes a reality. We are already in discussions with potential partners who recognize the value of the Halo brand and its appeal to consumers worldwide.”

More of the usual corporate optimism you'd expect in a situation like this. What's more interesting is what the guys at Bungie had to say on the subject. They sound pretty happy to be rid of Universal and Fox, and the way they phrase it, it makes them sound like reluctant partners from the outset. Bungie says, "The reality here at Bungie towers is a feeling of optimism, satisfaction and happiness for reasons we can’t go into. Frankly we’re interested in making the best movie, and it’s possible that a partner who’s more concerned with numbers, might not be the best partner for what’s more vitally a creative process."

To me, the best thing about this Halo project from the beginning was the staunch refusal of Bungie and Microsoft to settle for second best. When they hired no-name-Neill, it seemed like there might be cause to worry, but Bungie's statement seem to confirm their commitment to making a quality movie, even if it means jettising their primary sources of funding in favor of finding more creatively compatible partners.

"Suffice it to say that Peter, Neill, Fran and Microsoft are as excited and dedicated as ever and WETA continues the pre-production process. Actually, when you do finally get to see the stuff WETA has already made, you will probably pee a little." Let's hope we do see it eventually. As long as the games remain hugely popular, there's still hope for a Halo movie… some day.