Showtime announced that Rupert Wyatt would direct their upcoming Halo TV series back in June. Today, the network stated that Wyatt was stepping away from the project due to scheduling conflicts.

Wyatt had signed on to direct several of the show’s ten episodes and serve as executive producer. However, Gary Levine, president of Showtime’s programming, stated that the director would be moving on.

“Showtime’s adaptation of Halo is evolving beautifully with rich characters, compelling stories and powerful scripts,” said Levine. “Obviously, the production demands of this series are enormous, and we have had to add time to the schedule in order to do it right. Sadly, this delay has created a conflict for Rupert, whom we warmly thank for all he has brought to the project.”

In the statement, Wyatt expressed sadness over his departure and gratitude for the opportunity. “It’s with great disappointment that changes to the production schedule of Halo prevent me from continuing in my role as a director on the series. My time on Halo has been a creatively rich and rewarding experience with a phenomenal team of people. I now join the legion of fans out there, excited to see the finished series and wishing everyone involved the very best.”

The Rise of the Planet of the Apes director’s next film, Storm King, is currently in pre-production. While Wyatt did not elaborate on the specifics of his departure, that project figures to be the source of the conflict. Showtime did not immediately name a replacement. Filming is scheduled to begin in June 2019, so the network can still take its time and find an ideal candidate.

This is a difficult loss for Showtime. Wyatt proved he can craft emotional yet exciting sci-fi with Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Additionally, he directed a pair of pilots (The Exorcist and TURN: Washington’s Spies) that rank among each series’ finest episodes. His deft hand could have steered Halo away from the typical pratfalls of video game adaptations.

Thankfully, the show still retains a strong production team. Show runner Kyle Killen’s Awake failed to receive a massive audience, but I consider it an underrated season of television. And of course, anything with Steven Spielberg’s name attached will draw in massive audiences, regardless of quality. Fans of Xbox’s flagship franchise should remain optimistic about the show’s potential as Showtime remains committed to the series.

How do you feel about Wyatt’s departure? Who would you like to see take his place as director of the Halo series? Give us your thoughts in the comment section below. For more gaming news and updates, follow DFTG on Facebook and Twitter!