Microsoft is partnering with Showtime to create a Halo TV series

Microsoft is currently in “deep” negotiations to bring the Halo live-action TV series to premium cable channel Showtime, Variety reports. Microsoft announced it was partnering with iconic director Steven Spielberg for the show last year. Spielberg will act as executive producer, and he’ll be working with developer 343 Industries and Amblin Television. We don’t know much about it, but Microsoft’s Phil Spencer has said before that the show won’t just be “filler.”

Xbox Entertainment Studios is deep in negotiations with Showtime to develop a live-action “Halo” drama series that is a high priority for the Microsoft production unit headed by Nancy Tellem. Xbox Studios has been developing a drama series spin on the vidgame franchise with Steven Spielberg’s Amblin TV banner for more than a year. It’s understood that the company is close to a deal with a pair of showrunners to steer the series adaptation of the expansive bible developed by screenwriter Stuart Beattie, but the deal is not envisioned as a straight-to-series pickup. Xbox aims to develop “Halo” and other properties as high-end series productions in an effort to enhance the Xbox platform as an entertainment service for its base of 48 million subscribers.