Halo is getting the TV series treatment at Paramount+ with American Gods star Pablo Schreiber cast in the lead role. The series should get a lot of attention given the massive popularity of the iconic video game franchise upon which it is based, but producer Kiki Wolfkill tells ComicBook.com that the show won’t be able to please everyone.
Halo debuted in 2001 on the original XBOX and has enjoyed several sequels over the years. The story spans thousands of years across several planets, with Master Chief (Schreiber) leading the action with his AI companion Cortana (voiced by Jen Taylor, who will also voice the role in the series).
Wolfkill is well aware of the stakes that come with bringing such a popular franchise to life in a completely new medium. “It’s amazing to have these dedicated fan bases and communities,” she said. “But it’s also hard because there are so many diverse perspectives. At some point, you can’t satisfy all the voices. You need to have your own voice.”
“This show won’t satisfy everyone” could be taken as code for “This show will satisfy no one,” but there’s much more to it.
Halo producers could face the same concerns as WandaVision director
The idea of not being able to meet fans’ expectations is one that keeps Hollywood executives up at night, and it’s definitely a concern for anyone adapting a high-profile franchise. Thanks to social media and the ability for fans to dissect teasers and trailers down to the millisecond, by the time the series debuts there will already be tons of theories and opinions formed, and it’s hard to sell new stories with so many preconceived notions.
WandaVision director Matt Shakman surmised that the finale of the popular Marvel series would leave some unhappy in part for this reason. “I hope that they feel like the journey was satisfying for them. I know there are so many theories out there; there will be a lot of people who will no doubt be disappointed by one theory or another,” he told Entertainment Weekly.
The best way to tell whether the Halo series will be any good is to watch it. Paramount+ is putting a lot of effort into building this series. It won’t be a carbon copy of the game, but if done properly it should capture fans’ interest.
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h/t CBR