Variety is reporting that a live-action Halo webseries will debut in the weeks before this Fall's November 6th release of Halo 4.

The webseries, titled Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn, represents the largest monetary investment that Microsoft has ever put behind a live-action project – with details about the plot, cast and director to be announced this Summer at San Diego Comic-Con. The company will be watching the performance of the webseries closely, hoping that it renews studio interest in a big screen version. If you recall, back in 2005, Universal and FOX had designs for a blockbuster Halo movie, to be produced by Peter Jackson and directed by Neill Blomkamp (District 9).

The purpose of the webseries is to, as Matt McCloskey, director of franchise business management at 343 Industries, told Variety, "make Halo accessible for people who haven't played the games. We wanted to do something unique from a narrative standpoint that's big in scale."

The series will revolve around Master Chief and how he inspired a young UNSC cadet who will eventually become a leader aboard the UNSC Infinity spacecraft, with pre-war flashbacks spliced in. It will play out over five weekly installments, each being around 15 minutes in length. Frank O'Connor, franchise development director at 343 Industries, told Variety, "We needed a way to ensure there was a way for people to get on board this universe without feeling intimidated."

The webseries will be available for viewing at Machinima, and at the online community Halo Waypoint.

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