Jackson gets his game on

Peter Jackson has extended his relationship with Microsoft by signing on for two further film adaptations of the company’s computer games. Wingnut’s Jackson and Fran Walsh are currently executive-producing a film adaptation of the best-selling Halo franchise; next he will produce a sequel to Halo as well as an original film with an interactive game spin-off. He has also announced the imminent launch of Wingnut Interactive Studio, a NZ-based production house which will develop new properties for Microsoft’s Xbox 360 next-generation console. “Microsoft has built an amazing living canvas with Xbox 360 and Xbox Live, which allows the storytellers of our time to express themselves in a new medium,” says Jackson. “…From a movie-maker’s point of view, it is clear to me that the Xbox 360 platform is the stage where storytellers can work their craft in the same way they do today with movies and books, but taking it further with interactivity.”