Spielberg-backed Halo movie for 2012?

UPDATE: Microsoft has denied a Halo movie is in development.

"The information in the press release in question is inaccurate," said Microsoft in a statement sent to Eurogamer. "We have no plans for a Halo feature film right now. Our focus is on developing Halo: Anniversary and Halo 4."

ORIGINAL STORY: A Halo movie, backed by Steven Spielberg and Dreamworks, will launch in 2012, a new report has claimed.

The French press release kit for book Halo: Cryptum, received by Halo.fr, contains the following:

"A film adaptation is set in 2012. It will be conducted jointly by two heavyweights of American cinema: Steven Spielberg and Dreamworks."

We've had our French brethren at Eurogamer.fr take a look at the original text and it does indeed suggest the above.

Fans are speculating that the Halo movie, if real, will be based on the Cryptum novel, the first book in the Forerunner Saga by Greg Bear.

This is not the first time we've heard of Spielberg's interest in making a Halo movie.

In 2009 we heard the legendary Hollywood director was in negotiations to develop a Halo movie based on a script titled Halo The Fall of Reach.

Then, in 2010, Microsoft said it was sure a Halo movie would be made at some point - and it may even fund production itself.

The Halo movie project was thought dead after Peter Jackson and Neil Blomkamp put the kaibosh on it.

With New York Comic-Con set to open its doors next week, an announcement may be imminent. Eurogamer has asked Microsoft for comment.