Netflix has officially picked up Paramount+’s canceled Halo television adaptation. The live-action interpretation of the Bungie-developed game franchise first aired in 2022 and ran on the streaming platform until its cancellation in 2024. Though the show wasn’t an instant hit with Paramount+ subscribers, Halo has already found a spot on Netflix’s most-watched list. The sci-fi series, at the time of writing, is No. 4 on the streamer’s U.S. viewership charts.
Halo and Fan Criticism
We’ve been fortunate enough to relish high-quality, impactful game adaptations since the niche found its footing a few years ago. From silver-screen moneymakers like Minecraft, Sonic the Hedgehog, and The Super Mario Bros. Movie to TV retellings like The Last of Us and Fallout, gamers are given a chance to reconnect with their favorite franchises in all-new ways. The Halo series, however, brought some fans pause.
Despite the show’s long and arduous development phase, fans of the IP were taken aback by the on-screen removal of Master Chief’s iconic helmet. It’s not Pablo Schreiber they’ve got beef with, though. Master Chief, throughout the franchise’s lengthy run, never removes his helmet. The show jumped the shark in the pilot, leading many fans to dismiss it as yet another unfaithful video game adaptation.
Another controversial scene between Master Chief and Makee — an original character created for the TV show — was panned by fans as well as performers. In a 2024 interview with SFX (via GamesRadar), Schreiber called Master Chief’s sensual scene “a huge mistake.”
Based on Netflix performance metrics alone, it’s likely the show’s return to streaming will draw some viewers back to revisit and reevaluate. The show’s second season outdid its predecessor, according to critics, which could also pull back fans who had abandoned the show after the first few episodes.
About Halo
Science-fiction series Halo, set in the 26th century, tells the story of the stoic supersoldier Master Chief Petty Officer John-117 (Pablo Schreiber) and his Silver Team peers. The live-action adaptation debuted on Paramount+ in 2022 and is based on the popular Xbox shooter franchise of the same name. The series’ first entry, Halo: Combat Evolved, first landed on the original Xbox console in 2001. Other cast members include Shabana Azmi as Admiral Margaret Parangosky, Natascha McElhone as Halsey and Jen Taylor as Cortana.
The show’s first and second seasons comprise a combined 17 episodes, so if you’ve got the patience and free time for a binge-watching session, this could be prime viewing. Power through it, and you could be all caught up by the time the Sunday Scaries kick in.
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