Source: Paramount+ / Halo
Master Chief's time on Paramount+ has come to an end, but Xbox is still hoping to continue the fight on another streaming platform.
After only two seasons, the polarizing Halo The TV series has been canceled on Paramount+.
In a statement to THR, Paramount+ and the game's current developer, 343 Industries, had this to say about the show's cancellation:
“We are extremely proud of this ambitious series and would like to thank our partners at Xbox, 343 Industries and Amblin Television, along with showrunner and executive producer David Wiener, his fellow executive producers, the entire cast led by Pablo Schreiber as Master Chief and the amazing crew for all their great work.”
“We deeply appreciate the millions of fans who have propelled the Halo series into a global success, and we remain committed to expanding the Halo universe in different ways in the future,” 343 Industries added. “We are grateful to Amblin and Paramount for their partnership in bringing our expansive science fiction universe to audiences around the world.”
Per of IGN reference, both Xbox and 343 Industries haven't given up hope for the video game adaptation. They will make a valiant effort to shop the series in hopes of continuing to tell the story of the Master Chief.
The first season of Halo premiered in March 2022 to mixed reviews. Major complaints were made about the treatment of Pablo Schreiber's beloved Spartan soldier constantly taking off his helmet and being out of his iconic armor, something we don't see at all in the games.
Halo Television was met with controversy from the beginning
HHW Gaming Bernard “Beanz” Smalls spoke with Schreiber, who said it was a “great honor and responsibility” to play Master Chief in the series, but also understood why some had reservations.
Yeah, I don't think it's a reaction or an argument. I always knew that would be part of why when you take a first-person shooter video game and turn it into a TV show. Just from building what you're doing, there's 50 million people out there that have bought the game, that have played the game as Master Chief.
So whether they even know that's why they don't want to take the helmet off or not, it happens. That's the ownership you have over the character because you've been playing the game for as long as that character, so everyone in their own way feels like they're the leader, right? So I always knew that people would be upset that you would take the helmet off because you're changing the course of the franchise. The good news is that I think when people see the show, they'll understand why it happened.
It is for long-form television. You really have to see the face of your character, the protagonist. We have many seasons of storytelling that we want to start. The whole point of this show is to humanize John and learn about Master Chief in a way you've never learned in the games.
Video game X reacts to his news of Halo Annulment
Predictably, those who have trashed the show since it first premiered weren't surprised by the news, even after season 2 made a valiant effort to address fan criticism.
“Halo was canceled after two seasons because its creators didn't respect the source material or the Halo fans, and because Master Chief refused to wear his damn helmet. How hard is it to put on a good Halo show? Just stick to what made games great! Stop trying to make it your own. Is not. Adapt these things faithfully, like Fallout or Arcane or The Last Of Us!”, A user on X, wrote the former Twitter.
“I'm not surprised to see the Halo TV series get cancelled, it got better in S2 but failed to capture what made the great Halo characters we've known for 20 years doing things that didn't make sense and the fall of Reach basically happens outside camera and with the Chief out of armor If he comes back, do a full reboot and start over with a team that understands Halo. Kinda funny and Gametag Radio Paris Lilly wrote.
by Beanz Thoughts On Hello TV
While most people were disappointed in this show and felt it didn't follow the script of the video game, I was a fan.
As someone who played it Halo video games, I always felt of Halo The lore was a jumbled mess, especially after the events of Halo 2.
The show simplified things a bit, giving a rather dull character in the Master Chief more personality and, most importantly, a face. Pablo Schreiber did a good job in the role, and I hope Xbox and 343 Industries can find the show a home because Season 2 was really good and there are still more stories to be told.
No, this show wasn't at the level of storytelling that The Last of Us or HBO's Fallout was, but it was good when you put it together with the plethora of other mid-range video game adaptations.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
