'Halo 4' Launch Trailer from David Fincher 'Scanned'

Fans hoping to see Master Chief on the big screen may be one step closer - as Microsoft has announced that acclaimed producer/director David Fincher (Fight Club, The Social Network) as well as visual effects guru Tim Miller (Scott Pilgrim vs. The World) are attached to the Halo 4 launch trailer.

Fincher executive produced the trailer, with Miller serving as director - joining other rising Hollywood talents, Rupert Sanders (Snow White and the Huntsman) who helmed the Halo: ODST trailer, "We Are ODST" and Noam Murro (the upcoming 300: Rise of an Empire) who led the Halo: Reach trailer "Birth of a Spartan." The official announcement comes one week ahead of the final trailer - which is set for debut on October 18th.

Halo launch trailers have grown increasingly complex over the years - ditching gameplay for enormous live-action battlefields as well as attempts to display emotional complexities of the soldiers behind the masks (i.e. the ODST "Rookie" and the Reach Spartans). According to Microsoft, the Halo 4 launch trailer will take a similar approach - this time with Master Chief:

Titled “Scanned,” the trailer is an action-packed cinematic production that offers a captivating look at the backstory of Master Chief, and provides a glimpse of the new threat he will encounter in “Halo 4.”

Similar comments from 343 Studios, about delving into Master Chief's backstory, drew a mixed response from fans - as many are eager to see the character explored in future installments while others would prefer that John-117 remain a blank slate. That said, Microsoft knows that Halo, and the Master Chief character, need to be handled extremely carefully - especially if they ever want to get a Halo movie off the ground. The Spartan-II's depiction in the recent Halo 4 live-action webseries, Forward Unto Dawn, looks to be encouraging and, with Fincher and Miller attached to the latest launch trailer, Microsoft is certainly investing in top-tier talent to help showcase how cool Master Chief would be on the big screen - in addition to serving-up an explosive piece of marketing for Halo 4.

Check out the first full image of Master Chief in the Halo 4 launch trailer, "Scanned," below (click to enlarge):

Discussing his excitement and goals for the project, Miller stated:

“I’m excited about the opportunity to direct the ‘Halo 4’ launch trailer in creative partnership with 343 Industries and David Fincher. Halo is one of the most iconic sci-fi universes, with a depth that allows for amazingly cinematic and emotionally riveting stories. The chance to tell a story that explores never-before-seen facets of Master Chief’s journey is an honor. Our goal is to deliver a blockbuster, Hollywood-quality trailer that raises the bar for the award-winning legacy of live-action ‘Halo’ storytelling and gets fans stoked for the return of Master Chief.”

Miller and Fincher previously worked together on the visually striking title sequence for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo adaptation. While Fincher didn't weigh-in on the significance of the Halo franchise this round, he did offer praise of Miller's knack for blending live-action and CGI elements - a skill that will be key if the pair intend to deliver the best live-action Halo trailer to date:

"I enjoy collaborating with Tim Miller, who is at the visual and technical forefront of hybridized live-action/CGI — not only pushing the boundary but defining it.”

Fincher's mostly vague comment indicates that, despite his executive producer title, he probably doesn't have much direct interaction or insight into Miller's Halo 4 trailer - and, in this case, is serving in a limited support role. As a result, while "Scanned" could certainly be a jaw-dropping piece of live-action Halo marketing/entertainment, fans expecting a lot of Fincher influence probably shouldn't wait on baited breath.

As mentioned, the extended two-minute trailer will debut on October 18th - first on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” (the show starts 12:35am ET/11:35pm CT on NBC) and, immediately after the broadcast debut, available for viewing on Halo Waypoint and the Xbox YouTube channel. In the meantime, players can pre-order their Halo 4 copy, check out the Halo 4 multiplayer walkthroughs, and watch for new episodes of Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn.

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Follow me on Twitter @benkendrick for further updates on Halo 4 as well as other movie, TV, and gaming news.

Halo 4 launches on November 6th, exclusively for Xbox 360.