Deadline has learned that Microsoft’s Xbox Entertainment Studios has greenlighted soccer reality series Every Street United from Mandalay Sports Media.
Earlier this year, Microsoft revealed that they were producing a Halo live action TV series from a partnership between 343 studios and Steven Spielberg.
According to Deadline, the reality show will have eight episodes similar to Halo. Each one will be 30 minutes long and will be shot in different countries. It will focus on the ‘greatest’ undiscovered local street soccer players and it is speculated that one player will be profiled in each episode. World Cup games may also be featured in the series.
A portion of Every Street United will be directed by ESPN’S 30 for 30 Jonathan Hock. Executive producers Mike Tollin and Jon Weinbach are also on board. It was reported that Tollin has a long-standing business relationship with Nancy Tellem, Microsoft’s Entertainment and Digital Media President, through her tenure at CBS.
It’s no surprise that the company is planning to offer original content outside of video games for the Xbox One since the console offers a variety of features that advocate to different forms of entertainment such as music, television, and film. Other sources report that there might be an “interactive component” that could add an element of gamification to the series.
The Xbox One will be released on November 22, 2013 in most countries for $499/€499/£429.