Master Chief’s armor in the live-action Halo TV show is quite accurate compared to the video games, but exactly how accurate? After years of development and delays, some contributed by the ongoing pandemic, the live-action Halo series will finally premiere on Paramount+ in 2022. Given the popularity of the franchise, there is much anticipation surrounding its release, particularly since it’ll be the first high-budgeted, live-action project of its kind.
The first Halo teaser that debuted during Xbox’s 20th anniversary celebration livestream didn’t give much away in terms of plot or tone. Instead, it gave viewers a look at the live-action depiction of the franchise’s iconic protagonist, Master Chief (also known as John or Sierra-117). Played by Pablo Schreiber, Master Chief’s face wasn’t shown, but he was seen without his armor, showing viewers multiple scars on his back. That was followed up by him donning his armor, and the voice of Cortana (played by Jen Taylor reprising her role from the Halo games) greeting him.
Needless to say, Master Chief’s armor in the Halo teaser looks accurate to the games. Although specific details regarding the story haven’t been revealed, it has been reported that it will cover the Human-Covenant War that raged in the 26th century, a plotline that served as the basis for the original Halo video game trilogy. And exactly which games will be adapted can be determined through the look of Master Chief’s armor, particularly the visor on his helmet.
If one looks closely, the visor on Master Chief’s helmet has a vaguely rectangular shape on the inside. Though this particular visor is shown throughout the following games, it is most distinguishable in Halo 2. It is also the first time it appears this way, as Master Chief’s helmet has a clear visor in Halo: Combat Evolved. What the visor says about when the Halo series is taking place is uncertain. However, it’s likely that the showrunners want to include characters such as the Arbiter and the High Prophets (who are introduced in Halo 2) from the get-go. This makes it possible that the series could take place as a sequel to Combat Evolved and will adapt Halo 2 onward, but skipping the introduction of the original Halo ring would be a misstep. Presumably, Halo will combine elements from all the games to avoid unnecessary upgrades to Master Chief’s armor throughout the series and maintain consistency, but still starting from the beginning of the story.
All in all, the teaser doesn’t give much away regarding how the Halo series will play out. Whether it will be a direct adaptation to the video games or a completely new story is still unclear as of now. What fans do know is that Master Chief will be portrayed differently in the series. At the very least, the teaser does an effective job at piquing fan interest, as they’ll rest assured knowing the iconic look of the beloved protagonist remains intact.
Halo premieres on Paramount+ in 2022.
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