The long-awaited Halo TV series is set to hit streaming service Paramount+ this spring. Taking the world of the iconic and immensely popular video game series and bringing it into the live action realm, Halo is a different yet familiar take on the characters known to millions of gamers. Though it's taken an incredibly long time for the show to come out, it's almost here and the recent trailer has fans waiting as anxiously for the premiere as they have for any game in the series.
Though fans may feel that they know what to expect from the TV version, Halo is expected to offer several twists and turns that aren't in the games -- as well as epic action to entertain for fans and newcomers alike. Here's what people should know about the show's plot, development and cast of characters.
The Plot of the Halo Paramount+ Series
Though the exact plot details are still heavily under wraps, the Halo TV series is not meant to be canon with the video games. Though it will be incredibly respectful of canon, it will be in a separate timeline while also somewhat setting up the original Halo story. The main character is still going to be Master Chief, a member of the Spartan super-soldiers who are genetically engineered for warfare.
The Spartans' enemies are the Covenant, a race of aliens whose rule opposes that of the United Nations Space Command. Another character from the games appearing in the show is the A.I. Cortana, who aids Chief while also being of potential value to the Covenant if they get a hold of her. Set in the 26th century, the series will intersperse epic science fiction storytelling and drama with incredible action and warfare.
The Halo Series Has an Official Trailer
The show's first real trailer has finally been released, giving eager fans a glimpse at its much different world. This trailer establishes the general vibe and premise of the show, with enemy Convenant aliens seen briefly fighting Master Chief. Master Chief and the rest of the Spartna program are also established as being superhuman assets that might be more danger than they're worth, leading to the United Nations to keep a close sense of control over them. Many have noted that there is much more emphasis on normal humans and their interactions, with Chief and even Cortana sharing a lot of the spotlight with other characters.
News to Know About the Paramount+ Halo Series
The Halo show has been nine years in the making, with many suspecting that the franchise might jump onto the big screen before anything happened on the small one. Produced by Steven Spielberg, the series has been in intermittent levels of "development" since 2015 and was originally primed for release on Showtime. Halo has gone through several showrunners and directors, including Rupert Wyatt, Kyle Killen and Steven Kane. Killen and Kane are the first season's showrunners, though they supposedly will not return for a second season.
Pablo Schreiber, known for his roles on The Wire and American Gods, will be portraying franchise hero Master Chief. Other castings include Natascha McElhone as Dr. Elizabeth Halsey, Charlotte Murphy as Makee and Bokeem Woodbine as Soren-066. Jen Taylor, who portrayed Cortana in the video games, will be reprising that role in the show.
The Halo Series Release Date on Paramount+
Going from a planned 2019 to 2020 release, Halo will finally be sailing into the stratosphere this year. Halo is scheduled to begin its run on March 24, 2022, streaming on the Paramount+ service. It will be distributed internationally through the Viacom Global Global Distribution Group. The intended 10 episodes seem to have been trimmed down to nine, according to IMDb. Gamers and audiences will have to sign up for Paramount+ and tune in when Halo comes out to see if it lives up to all the anticipation.