Being a massive Halo and Mass Effect fan the rumours of a film are often coupled with flurries of ideas of what story could be told and inevitably, who should be given the creative lead on the project.
This is where I state my case that Neill Blomkamp is the one and only for BOTH projects. I was gutted to hear when the funding for Neill Blomkamp's Halo fell through, but understandably, spending 200 Million + on a film that wouldn't get a large attraction outside the gamer circle was understandable. This lead to Blomkamp and Peter Jackson to direct and produce District 9 (based on short Alive in Joburg) and when I went to see it, I was left bittersweet. Realising Neill Blomkamp could direct such an amazing original film and rich action left me happy, but also sad when I realised what he could of done to the Halo Universe. Universe being the key word.
Neill Blomkamp has been quoted in saying that his attraction to a film comes not just in the story but the world in which the story takes place which most likely initially attracted him to the Halo Universe as it has so many stories to tell, from the Halo trilogy to the books and it just doesn't stop there. There is boundless space to create an original story, away from Master Chief or already explored events in books (just look at Forward Unto Dawn film, which my mum particularly enjoyed).
The points I make for him to be attached to a Halo movie can be applied to the Mass Effect film as well, with a universe just as rich and accessible to the public outside of the gamer circle. A Mass Effect film would most likely follow the main Mass Effect storyline with Commander Shepard and his squad of multi race aliens and humans. It is here that District 9 and Elysium shows how Neill Blomkamp is perfect for this, with his "prawns" showing him able to create a believable alien able to convey emotion even without speaking English. Imagine Garrus with his original voice actor mixed with Neill Blomkamp's CGI wizardry and Elysiums security robots looking like the LOKI mechs from Mass Effect 2.
Having each game converted to film would require the worlds and locations (Citadel, Virmire, Ilos, Halo) converted perfectly to real life which is where I have no worries if Neill Blomkamp was given creative control.
See here are stills from Elysium, which is just a visual love letter to Halo's iconic horizon and Mass Effect's Presidium .
Try and tell me that they don't look like these iconic video game locations!
Case closed.
