Showtime may be getting in on the Halo action: According to Variety, Microsoft and the cable channel are negotiating a deal to work together on the video game adaptation.

The series, which was announced last year by Microsoft when Xbox One was revealed, is being produced by Steven Spielberg's Amblin TV. No showrunners or writers have been attached, but Stuart Beattie (I, Frankenstein) helped develop the series bible.

The Halo franchise follows a group of space marines lead by Master Chief as they confront a variety of alien threats. Since its 2001 debut on the original Xbox with Halo: Combat Evolved, the games have gone on to spawn a series of sequels that have brought in billions of dollars as well as comics, novels and web series'.

If the deal with Showtime goes through, the plan would be to present the series on the pay-cable channel first and then on Xbox Live.