Denied Halo, Peter Jackson working on different sci-fi project

Halo fans have been saddened since Peter Jackson's vision for the product has been moved into development hell. It's not the end of the world, though, since the Lord of the Rings director and the prospective screenwriter on that film, Neill Blomkamp, have started work on their own science-fiction film, District 9.

Details on the film are still unknown but they will be revealed to distributors today at American Film Market. While Jackson's feature that just moved into production, The Lovely Bones, is a smaller return to his more independent-feature realm, this movie looks to be more ambitious in scope. In fact, Jackson's regulars at Weta Workshop will be working on the effects. Which is perhaps why Jackson has left his friend to direct the feature rather than working on it himself.

"For the last year, my team and I have had the pleasure of working very closely with Neill," Jackson commented in a recent press release. "He has a passion and a command of the language of cinema that will result in District 9 fascinating people all over the world." This will be Blomkamp's feature directing debut, though Jackson will be taking an active role as a producer rather than being just that guy who loaned his friend some money.

Funding has already been secured for the feature, so filming is expected to begin this Spring in South Africa after Jackson's current shoot is finished.

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