*NEW Halo 4: Foward Unto Dawn "First Look"

Recently IGN, released more information and footage for their Live-Action web-series "Forward Unto Dawn" based on the Halo game franchise.


LOWDOWN:
The web-series will revolve around Master Chief and how he inspired a young UNSC cadet who will eventually become a leader aboard the UNSC Infinityspacecraft, 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."

“Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn” is a live-action digital series based on the best-selling Xbox franchise that brings a brand-new “Halo” story to life on a scale never before seen in the “Halo” universe. “Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn” delivers an exciting story of heroism and sacrifice, taking fans back to the beginning of the human and Covenant war and leading into the events of “Halo 4,” the biggest entertainment event of 2012.

Set against the backdrop of a United Nations Space Command (UNSC) military academy, a group of highborn cadets are training to be the next generation of soldiers in the UNSC’s ongoing war with insurrectionists in the outer colonial planets. Among these cadets, Thomas Lasky struggles with his doubts about this war and with the burden of expectations he may not be able to carry. As Lasky comes to terms with his potential as a military leader, the terrifying alien alliance known as the Covenant arrives and turns his world upside down. Inspired by the Master Chief, he must decide what it means to be a hero. “Halo” fans who experience Lasky’s thrilling origin story in “Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn” will be rewarded with special insights into the story of “Halo 4” and the “Halo Infinity Multiplayer” experience.

PRODUCT OVERVIEW:

The series will debut on Oct. 5, 2012, on Machinima’s premium YouTube channel, Machinima Prime (http://www.YouTube.com/MachinimaPrime), and on Halo Waypoint (http://halo.xbox.com/ForwardUntoDawn), and will unfold through a series of five episodes leading up to the worldwide launch of “Halo 4” on Nov. 6. An extended, 90-minute Special Edition featuring never-before-seen bonus footage, in-fiction content and behind-the-scenes videos will be available Nov. 6, 2012, on video-on-demand services and in the “Halo 4” Limited Edition, for $99.99 (U.S.)

HALO FRANCHISE:

The “Halo” franchise is an award-winning collection of properties that has grown into a global entertainment phenomenon. Beginning with the original “Halo: Combat Evolved” (2001), the critically acclaimed and record-shattering series of games has since inspired multiple New York Times bestselling novels, comic books, action figures, apparel and more.
Published by Microsoft Studios, the “Halo” franchise of games is exclusive to the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system and the Xbox LIVE online entertainment network. To date, more than 42 million copies of “Halo” games have been sold worldwide, driving more than 3.3 billion hours of gameplay by people connected to Xbox LIVE.

VIDEOS from IGN:

CREDITS:

Directed by Stewart Hendler (“H+,” “Sorority Row”) and written by Todd Helbing and Aaron Helbing (“Smallville,” “Spartacus”); “Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn” features a diverse cast of established and up-and-coming Hollywood talent, including Tom Green (“Dance Academy”) as Thomas Lasky, Anna Popplewell (“The Chronicles of Narnia”) as Chyler Silva, Daniel Cudmore (“X2,” “X-Men: The Last Stand,” “The Twilight Saga”) as the Master Chief, Ayelet Zurer (“Angels & Demons,” “Munich”) as Mehaffey, Mike Dopud (“Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol”) as General Black, Enisha Brewster (“Footloose”) as April Orenski, Masam Holden (“Grey’s Anatomy,” “Elizabethtown”) as Michael “Sully” Sullivan, Osric Chau (“2012”) as JJ Chen, Iain Belcher (“Supernatural”) as Vickers, and Kat De Lieva as Dimah.

Backed by a top-tier production team, including producers Lydia Antonini and Josh Feldman, former Warner Bros. and Playtone executives, respectively. Continuing its involvement with the “Halo” franchise, Legacy Effects (“The Hunger Games,” “The Avengers,” “Avatar”) is creating specialized costumes and armor, and visual effects are being designed by an award-winning team led by John Sullivan (“The Pacific”). Production services are provided by Herzog & Company.

TEMPLAR NOTE:

Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn debuts this Fall on Oct. 5th in anticipation of the release of Halo 4 on November 6th 2012.

Microsoft has produced several Halo live action trailers in the past but this is the biggest live action Halo project to-date.

343 Industries, the developer of Halo 4, is involved in the development of the web series and will use it to introduce the franchise to a new audience.

-Brian Lansangan

Follow me on Twitter @MrSnugglenutz84