Burton's Grim Fandango and Denzel in Halo?

  • By thorsen-ink, GameSpot
  • Posted Jul 13, 2006 5:31 am GMT

Sources: The little-known film blog The Movie Center and the well-respected entertainment site Dark Horizons. The official stories: Attempts to elicit comment from LucasArts, Burton's agent, and Microsoft were unsuccessful as of press time. What we heard: This week saw a couple of crazy rumors...

Sources: The little-known film blog The Movie Center and the well-respected entertainment site Dark Horizons.

The official stories: Attempts to elicit comment from LucasArts, Burton's agent, and Microsoft were unsuccessful as of press time.

What we heard: This week saw a couple of crazy rumors spring from the crossroads of Hollywood and games. First up was word that the sultan of strange himself, director Tim Burton, is planning to direct a film version of LucasArts' beloved 1998 PC game Grim Fandango. The string of rumors tracked back to what appeared to be a typo-packed interview on the obscure film blog The Movie Center.

"Well, I'm currently woerking (sic) on Sweeny Todd (sic), which will be released in mid-2007," read the quote attributed to Burton. "After that, I'm gonna start working on a new script that was sent to me recently: Grim Fandango. It sort of follows the style of The nightmare before Christmas (sic) and Corpse Bride. It's about a surreal land of the dead, some sort of purgatory where everyone goes when they die. In that place, dead people have to make a four-year transition before they can rest in peace for all the eternity. I still don't know when we're going to start filming this, though."

Given that "Burton-esque" was an adjective often used to describe Grim Fandango when it came out, the quote seemed confirmation of a match made in nerd heaven. The problem is, the "interview" was actually a collection of quotes lifted from other press outlets. While several of the early quotes could be traced to this About.com interview with Burton, several of the others--including the Grim Fandango quote--remain of indeterminate origin and are therefore unverifiable.

Meanwhile, a single line on Dark Horizons sent out waves that traveled far beyond its Antipodean origin. In its Tuesday "News Bites" column, the Australian film site ran the following one-sentence note: "Latest rumors have Denzel Washington as the favorite for Master Chief."

While such throwaway lines could be pulled out of thin air, this one does have some basis in fact. In June, Washington did indeed fly to New Zealand, according to an article in the June 30 edition of New Zealand newspaper The Dominion Post. "Oscar-winner Denzel Washington has confirmed he visited Wellington to see director Peter Jackson and the Hollywood heavyweights will collaborate on a new film project," said the paper.

However, Washington told reporters at the Wellington, New Zealand, airport that the meeting was about an unnamed project--that would put him behind the camera. "Speaking at the check-in counter, Washington said he would direct the movie, which he hoped would be released in two years. Jackson would provide the special effects."

Given that Jackson is executive-producing the Halo movie, it's easy to see how Washington's visit could start tongues a-waggin'. However, if Halo is going to stay true to the well-reviewed script written by Alex Garland, it's unlikely the Oscar-winner and sex symbol would play the Master Chief. (WARNING: script review contains adult language and spoilers.) Why? Because the screenplay, which is partially based on the novel Halo: The Fall of Reach, stays true to the spirit of the games by never revealing the Chief's face. It's hard to believe that Washington would agree to spend an entire shoot inside the Master Chief's power armor, and his unaltered voice lacks the supersoldier's clipped military gravitas. However, Washington easily has the chops and physique to play the MC's comrade in arms, Sergeant Johnson...

Bogus or not bogus?: Burton directing Grim Fandango? Not enough to go on. Washington as the Master Chief? Highly unlikely.

251 Comments

  • NoseWeed619

    Posted Aug 15, 2008 9:01 pm GMT

    Wow. I wouldn't even recommend Denzel Washington for Master Chief. Never in my life...

  • JediKnightGairu

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 11:09 am GMT

    screw halo, GRIM FANDANGO!!!

  • shadow_judge

    Posted Jan 1, 2007 8:27 am GMT

    NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Why, somebody MUST make a Grim Fandango movie!! I missed Manny so much!!!

  • H3LLJMP3Rx67

    Posted Dec 31, 2006 10:35 pm GMT

    bruce willis should be MC and samuel jackson should play johnson lol hells yeaaaaahhh

  • Beasterxxx

    Posted Oct 4, 2006 3:26 am GMT

    Denzels great and all but don't see him as Spartan 117 either, more like Johnson but also highly unlikely too....put this rumour to rest. (for now...)

  • Soldaten027

    Posted Sep 18, 2006 5:58 pm GMT

    I think Christian Bale or Micheal Ironside should play the cheif. I really liked Bale's voice in the recent Batman movie and Ironside would be perfect because he's proved his voice with Splinter Cell. And thank heavens, Grim Fandango is finally beign recognized! I loved the game, and if TIm Burton's directing the movie, I'm already sitting outside the theaters for my ticket with my skull mask, scythe, and a full-ride pakcage on the Number 9 Express train

  • superboyjoe93

    Posted Sep 15, 2006 6:03 am GMT

    chris rock would be a good johnson

  • 0011992288

    Posted Sep 11, 2006 12:45 pm GMT

    The only reason you racist jerks are saying he would make a better Sgt Johnson is cause he's black. I think he has the swagger to play MC.

  • taggerung000

    Posted Sep 2, 2006 9:01 pm GMT

    why not use the voice the game used?(if animated..) if they attempt a real movie with humans and animation... i got no idea lol))

  • 360KilDab

    Posted Sep 2, 2006 10:18 am GMT

    DENZEL GO THE NEW MASTER CHIEF SCREW WHAT YALL WANT HE OWNZ YOU! MASTER CHIEF IS GHETTO HE SOUNDS BLACK IT WOULD BE CRAP IF DENZEL DIDNT PLAY AS HIM CUZ HE KNOWS HOW TO HACK REALLY GOOD WE DONT NEED JUST A FACE WE NEED A GOOD ACTOR DENZEL WHOOP WHOOP!

  • pileozombies

    Posted Aug 28, 2006 9:01 am GMT

    Washington could be Sarge, but he ain't no MC... We need Chuck Norris as MC. or Sam Jackson as Johnson.

  • aja1-6

    Posted Aug 26, 2006 9:23 pm GMT

    I think The Rock would make a good chief, and Sam Jackson or Dennis Haybert would make good Sergeant Johnsons.

  • KingKevo71789

    Posted Aug 18, 2006 8:32 pm GMT

    I would love Washington as Sarge. I was actually thinking that while reading it. As for the Chief, it needs to be a relative unknown, it would be a little weird for a major hollywood star to play him...

  • CelicaCrazed

    Posted Aug 17, 2006 4:22 pm GMT

    Washington as Master Chief? He is perfect for the part. I'd definitely go see it if he was MC. "Man on Fire", anyone?

  • Brauchlem

    Posted Aug 6, 2006 5:03 pm GMT

    [This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

  • Minion123

    Posted Aug 4, 2006 8:16 am GMT

    It's stated in the books that Master Chief is white...

  • Ubawalla

    Posted Jul 28, 2006 1:37 pm GMT

    Arnold should be MC"you said you were going to let me go" "i lied ! "

  • MidgetMe

    Posted Jul 25, 2006 11:05 am GMT

    The chief is so obviously going to be played by that guy who was gothmog and the witvh king in the LOTR films, because hes huge, hes not an amazing actor, hes used to playing in huge cosumes and peter jackson has worked with him,

  • BLuEReApEr20

    Posted Jul 24, 2006 12:34 pm GMT

    First of all in Halo The Fall of Reach and The Flood it says that the MC is white with light brown hair freckles and a small gap in his front teeth, so he couldn't be black if the movie is The Fall of Reach also Sgt. Johnson doesn't show up until The Flood, but until then I think the Sarge should be played as Samuel L. Jackson.

  • angel_gabriel

    Posted Jul 23, 2006 1:14 am GMT

    just tell us if theres gonna be a halo movie or not dude

  • DaMooseOfDaApoc

    Posted Jul 22, 2006 11:10 am GMT

    No. If hes never gonna reveal his face, get the man who does the voice of chief-or some big 7- foot guy who can do a good MC voice. Doesnt matter what actor it is if you cant see the actor!

  • WildNinja08

    Posted Jul 21, 2006 8:13 pm GMT

    i think that he will end up dying trying to save the earth from total destruction, and show his face once and for all to us, Chuck Norris

  • dmdavenport

    Posted Jul 21, 2006 4:11 pm GMT

    I agree with Komissar - MC will not be played by an established actor . Peter Jackson is in charge of this project - and he cast Viggo Mortenson in LOTR. Also, unless this movie is a total bomb, this will be Halo 1, followed by Halo 2 and Halo 3. My guess is that the MC's character will be revealed slowly - we might not even see his face in the first movie - and his personal story will be a subplot to the conflict between humans and the convenant.

  • SocaWarrior

    Posted Jul 21, 2006 1:29 pm GMT

    Lol.. i'd choose mike tyson..

  • drac96

    Posted Jul 20, 2006 8:03 pm GMT

    I love that almost none of you even mentioned grim fandango. Its probobly because most of you have never even heard of it, but thats ok.
    It would make one awesome movie. It is one of my favorite games. Plus I like all of tim burtons movies making it even better. I really hope it's true!

  • Apollo4057

    Posted Jul 19, 2006 1:19 pm GMT

    Gentleman and ladies (i'm sure some females have spoken and i dont want to get burned). I being half black and half mexican don't give a crap what MC is and am fed up with all this racism talk, we are not meant to see his face. He's supposed to be more of a symbol of the saviour of humanity from the alien menace. If they do show his face I'm almost certain that some extremely hard-core fans would proceed to pillage the theater, then bungie, and most likely then Canada for good measure ( j/k, just j/k ). Anywho, I'm not sure if anybody has said this but what about Wesley Snipes!?!?! He's just as bad-ass and would do the Sarge justice, but I still like Samuel L. Jackson (just watch him in the beginning of Pulp Fiction to see my point). Cheers

  • arsy130

    Posted Jul 19, 2006 9:42 am GMT

    i hope the guy from the transporter plays master cheif and danzel washington play sargeant johnson

  • dsfb

    Posted Jul 18, 2006 11:13 pm GMT

    so that means mc in the game is a black guy,hmmmm oh well

  • Umm_YouSuck

    Posted Jul 18, 2006 9:51 pm GMT

    guys, guys, guys, your looking at this all wrong. kendall foote would be great for the master chief
    oh, and christopher walken as johnson

    hey, it could happen

  • boarding4ever

    Posted Jul 18, 2006 10:41 am GMT

    maybe johnson could be dave chappelle acting as Samuel Jackson.
    HAVE YOU SEEN MY MOVIES!?!?!?!

  • boarding4ever

    Posted Jul 18, 2006 10:29 am GMT

    i think morgan freeman should be johnson. or samuel jackson.

  • A7Xfan

    Posted Jul 18, 2006 9:38 am GMT

    Grim Fandango would make for an excellent movie!

  • 00Rambol00

    Posted Jul 18, 2006 5:03 am GMT

    god damn it, doooooooooooooooooooooo not recreate a darn cool game into a film, its just not worth it man. i don't want another game ruined by some idiot, like the RESIDENT EVIL films, jeeeez lol

  • killa_jigga

    Posted Jul 17, 2006 6:23 pm GMT

    kirk douglas would make an excellent MC!!!

  • magemaximus

    Posted Jul 17, 2006 3:15 pm GMT

    van damme is going to be in rush hour 3.

  • RedAlert89

    Posted Jul 17, 2006 1:33 pm GMT

    Then again, how can we put a face on who we have each imagined the MC to be? Seeing the movie could ruin Halo for us. It would be much better if a Halo movie came out after Halo 3. But I am still excited for a Halo movie no doubt!!

  • Komissar33188

    Posted Jul 17, 2006 1:13 pm GMT

    They're probably not going to draw on established Hollywood talent for the Chief-- that suit's going to be a bloody sauna, and the actor won't get a face shot. It's going to be somebody who's new to the craft or some character actor without "major star" status, not Bruce, Chuck, Steven Seagal, Vin Diesel (though he may just take it for the money), or any big action star. The name that comes to my mind is Tom Jane (the Punisher), who hasn't done much recently (Though I do acknowledge Hugh Jackman's potential and want to add Ron Perlman to speculation). Face or no face, I envisioned a white guy, pardon me. But you could certainly get a black guy in there (Denzel's too serious in an Oscar way, but maybe a Laurence Fishburne Chief).

    Cortana, Johnson, and any other parts are completely open, though. I'm predicting/hoping for a Selma Blair Cortana (the prediction) and a Samuel L. Jackson Sergeant (the hope, though I'd predict Don Cheadle like I always do). As for Keyes, I like the Edward Burns call, but I'm pulling for R. Lee Ermey (Sarge from Full Metal Jacket). He's the craziest old cowboy-style military actor I can think of right now. Or Clint. But he's above something like this so late in his career.

  • TrueWarlord

    Posted Jul 17, 2006 12:34 pm GMT

    I can see Samuel L. Jackson as Sergeant Johnson, but notsomuch Denzel Washington. I mean, he's a good actor and "Man on Fire" is what "The Punisher" should have been, but I'm not seeing him as Johnson.

  • tskeeve

    Posted Jul 17, 2006 9:40 am GMT

    I'm not enough of a Halo fan to have read the novels and all that, but I thought the reason why they never show the MC's face is because they wanted gamers to use their own imagination in constructing the MC's "persona". So many people posting here have so many stereotypes ingrained in their minds that they can't even fathom someone other than a white guy playing MC. That's just wrong. Open up and stop being so ignorant.

  • terry_tate

    Posted Jul 17, 2006 1:11 am GMT

    i say samual jackson should be sgt johnson hes everywhere... OMFG THERES MUTHAFU**IN SNAKES ON THIS MUTHAFU**IN PLANE!!!

  • wesborland

    Posted Jul 16, 2006 9:36 pm GMT

    actually, the article at the movie center is quoting entertainment now (www.entertainmentnow.4t.com)

  • kle549

    Posted Jul 16, 2006 7:51 pm GMT

    ok dave chappelle would be funny as hell but it would be so stupid considering the voice, why not get the people who do the voice (unless their fat) to do it, would it same time and problems?

  • BlackouTTSniper

    Posted Jul 16, 2006 2:46 pm GMT

    =O...i dont think its gonna be that bad...im sure the majority of you have seen I, Robot...same concept...about 10 actors/actresses all the rest is computer generated...as many of you may recall...that movie was pretty good. I think many are eagerly waiting to see this film...it does matter who plays who tho...this is key.

  • rowersdoitbest

    Posted Jul 16, 2006 11:36 am GMT

    doesnt matter who acts in this movie its gunna be another crappy game to film movie

  • rowersdoitbest

    Posted Jul 16, 2006 11:35 am GMT

    doesnt matter who acts in this movie its gunna be another crappy game to film movie

  • Chewy08

    Posted Jul 15, 2006 10:33 pm GMT

    Who cares if he's black or white, i'm not up for this racist crap. Just through some big guy in there, shut him up for the whole movie, and pay the guy who spoke for the Chief in the games a but load of money. That would be great for me.

  • masterpiraka

    Posted Jul 15, 2006 8:34 pm GMT

    (I"M new here)

    Ving Rhames as Sargent Johnson and Micheal Ironside / Edd Harris as captain Keyes. MC can just be some one who played a predator ( keep in mind, most of MC's hight is from the armor ), Steve Downes should still do the voice though.

    BTW: Pretty sure John 117 had red hair and freckles as a child, but his hair became black with silver streaks after the augmentation.

  • akaredspider

    Posted Jul 15, 2006 8:16 pm GMT

    i think it should be jackie chan or jet li as MC and chris tucker as Sgt johnson that would be better no white guy or black guy the always get the good rules plus none of them can fight like jackie chan or jet li

  • phSychO_AtDawn

    Posted Jul 15, 2006 7:28 pm GMT

    Hugh Jackson(Wolverine) or Chuck Norris as Master Chief, and no I'm not racist but Master Chief is albino but it would be pretty cool if he was Black...or Hispanic...or Asian and I am pretty sure there are more Spartans that are culturally Diverse.Samuel Jckson would be a good Captain Keyes or Sgt.Johnson.

  • michaelpj

    Posted Jul 15, 2006 7:17 pm GMT

    maybe the black dude from the green mile..lol but yeah samuel l jackson would be pretty good for sarge. johnson

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