Steven Spielberg’s Sci-Fi Video Game Adaptation Gets Hopeful Return Update 2 Years After Controversial Cancellation

While once considered divisive, Steven Spielberg’s Halo adaptation has gotten a hopeful new update following its cancellation.

First developed by Kyle Killen and Steven Kane, and later showrun by David Wiener, the Paramount+ show took a somewhat diverging route to adapting the iconic sci-fi action video game franchise, following Pablo Schreiber as Master Chief Petty Officer John-117 in his and humanity’s fight against the Covenant. Airing from 2022-24, the series was met with mixed reviews from critics and audiences in season 1, followed by much stronger reviews in season 2, only to be cancelled after the latter.

Now, in a Microsoft-focused feature from Entertainment Weekly, the Halo series has gotten a hopeful update on its potential return to the screen. Speaking with Xbox’s Executive Vice President and Chief Content Officer Matt Booty, he affirmed that the property as a whole is “first and foremost, one of our biggest franchises” in Xbox’s library. Further describing it as being “iconic” to the company, Booty assured they are “certainly going to invest going forward” in the Halo franchise’s return to the screen.

Though not initially well-loved, Halo certainly proved itself one to have learned a lot of lessons from season 1’s rockier development going into season 2. With Weiner taking over as showrunner, the series saw critics grant it a 90% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and audiences shift from their “Rotten” score of 51% in season 1 to a solid 69% in season 2. One of the notable things to have come from season 2 was a better shift to game accuracy, adapting the events directly prior to the first Xbox game.

Its 2024 return did also see Halo season 2 net some very impressive early viewership, debuting to 354 million minutes viewed in its first four days in the U.S., as well as a spike in season 1 viewership thanks to Super Bowl promos. However, while Paramount+ never unveiled official numbers for the rest of the season, fewer announcements of major viewership milestones were shared in subsequent weeks, seemingly indicating a dip in the show’s ratings for the streamer.

In addition to its struggling viewership, it was suggested by reports that part of the reason for Halo season 3’s cancellation was the show’s costly budget, running upwards of $200 million when combining its first two seasons. With Paramount+ also serving as the home for much of the Star Trek franchise, which has generally been more consistently praised by critics and audiences alike, it’s understandable that the streamer may have found itself in a tight decision between which sci-fi series to continue.

Despite its initial mixed reception and cancellation, the Halo series has actually become something of a cult favorite the past few years. Upon making the move from Paramount+ to Netflix, it saw a massive spike in viewership, topping the latter streamer’s global charts. This created some new hopes for it to get picked up for more there, particularly as both 343 Industries and Amblin Television were said to be seeking a new home for season 3.

With Booty confirming that the franchise remains a big priority for Xbox, and they want to invest in its onscreen future, it does seem possible that talks may be underway with Netflix to revive Halo season 3, particularly now that Stranger Things season 5 and the upcoming Witcher season 5 ending both series leaves them more room for a big-budget show like it. Though should Paramount+ elect to keep the sci-fi action franchise for themselves, they may ultimately look to start from scratch with Xbox’s help.

Release Date

2022 – 2024

Network

Paramount+

Directors

Jonathan Liebesman, Craig Zisk, Dennie Gordon, Roel Reiné, Debs Paterson

Writers

Justine Juel Gillmer

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  Pablo Schreiber

  Master Chief, Spartan-117 / John-117

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  Natascha McElhone

  Dr. Catherine Halsey