Production finally begins on live action adaptation
It’s taken the best part of a decade to get cameras rolling and slates chalked, but it seems that Amblin Entertainment’s TV adaptation of Bungie’s seminal shooter Halo is finally ready to go into production, with a tentative release date of Q1 2022.
As reported by Deadline, the Halo TV series is currently set to continue its shooting schedule in Budapest, which was halted by the start of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The first season will launch on ViacomCBS’ paid streaming service Paramount+ and will tell the story of an interstellar conflict between humanity and a mysterious alien species known as The Covenant. Pablo Schreiber (American Gods) will step into the role of Spartan Commando Master Chief, while Natasha McElhone (Solaris, Californication) will play while scientist Dr. Catherine Halsey, while Jen Taylor will reprise her role from the video game series as iconic A.I. companion, Cortana.
“(The show) delivers the visceral excitement of playing the game, along with a much deeper emotional experience around the Spartans, human beings who got their humanity chemically and genetically altered,” explained Showtime Networks CEO David Nevins to Deadline. “The story is about reclaiming what makes them human, and therefore it’s a very powerful story.”
The Halo TV project was officially announced by none other than Stephen Spielberg himself, during Microsoft’s notorious Xbox One reveal way back in 2013. Pre-production on the long-awaited series would not begin for another two years, however, with cameras finally rolling in 2020. In all, the journey from announcement to premiere will have taken eight years, so here’s hoping that the show will deliver for Halo’s legions of dedicated fans… or is at least as good as Frogger.
Halo TV series moves from Showtime to Paramount+ [Deadline]
