Steven Spielberg to Produce Live-Action ‘Halo’ TV Series

In addition to unveiling its new Xbox One entertainment console, Microsoft also used its presentation to announce the transfer of popular video game Halo into a television series.

Steven Spielberg is on board to executive produce the live-action Halo TV series, Microsoft announced Tuesday. The series will include exclusive interactive Xbox One content that is created in partnership with 343 Industries and Xbox Entertainment Studios.

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For Spielberg, the news comes amid a busy development season with ABC this month granting series orders to lottery drama Lucky 7.

TNT also announced at its upfront presentation that it is developing two scripted dramas from Spielberg's Amblin Television in Portal House with Fringe's Jeff Pinkner and a reimagining of Peter Gunn.

Spielberg is also producing CBS' adaptation of Steven King's Under the Dome, which bows in June.

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Halo is a multibillion-dollar video game franchise. The first-person shooter centers on a fight for humankind against an alliance of aliens.  

For Microsoft, the announcement that it would develop a live-action scripted vehicle around the game comes as digital platforms including Netflix and Amazon are launching into the scripted business.

Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit

Lesley Goldberg