Commercial and music director Neill Blomkamp has nabbed the job of directing "Halo," Universal Pictures and 20th Century Fox's big-screen adaptation of the video game series.

The games follow a character named Master Chief and his companion Cortana as they try to save the galaxy from alien forces called the Flood. Halo refers to an artificial ringworld that actually is a weapon capable of destroying the galaxy. Alex Garland ("28 Days Later") wrote the screenplay.

South Africa-born and Vancouver-based Blomkamp is known for his commercials that feature robots and a dose of urban grittiness. His eye-popping commercial for Citroen, which featured a car that transformed into a hip-hop dancing robot, won three Clio Awards. He also directed "Alive in Joburg," a documentary-style short about aliens trying to live in the slums of Johannesburg.

Blomkamp began his career as a 3-D animator and was nominated for an Emmy as part of the visual effects team for James Cameron's TV series "Dark Angel." "Halo" will be his first feature.

Mary Parent, Scott Stuber and Peter Schlessel are producing, while Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh are executive producing.

Jackson saw some of Blomkamp's work and flew him to New Zealand for a meeting. One of the aspects that attracted Blomkamp to "Halo" was a chance to play in the Weta sandbox, as Jackson's company is providing creatures, miniatures and visual effects for the production.

Universal will distribute domestically, and Fox will handle foreign territories. The movie is eyeing a 2008 release.

Blomkamp is repped by Endeavor, Spy Films and Spy Entertainment and attorney Michael Gendler.