In 2022, Paramount+ lastly launched the primary season of Halo, the long-awaited live-action adaptation of the favored online game franchise. Whereas varied motion scenes served as fan-pleasing sequences, the collection was maligned among the many neighborhood for merely not feeling true to the supply materials. Along with specializing in too many aspect characters and interpersonal drama, the collection additionally took far too many liberties with its principal protagonist, Grasp Chief. With Season 2 beginning on Paramount+ this week, I sat down with Xbox’s head of IP growth and leisure Kiki Wolfkill and Halo Season 2 showrunner and author David Wiener to be taught extra in regards to the path they’re taking.
In keeping with Wolfkill, who has labored on the Halo collection since her function as govt producer on Halo 4 in 2012, making the Paramount+ collection extra devoted to its sport collection was of the utmost significance going into Season 2. Despite the fact that the group was engaged on Season 2 earlier than having the chance to gather suggestions from the collection’ viewers, as soon as the evaluations and fan suggestions got here throughout the group’s desks, they knew that they’d dedicated to the right modifications.
![](https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/02/02/8fb06f9d/halo_201_as_0927_5821_rt.jpg)
“We dove into Season 2 instantly, and what I might say is we had an inventory of issues earlier than we completed Season 1 that we needed to do with Season 2,” Wolfkill says. “What I believe was nice about attending to see suggestions alongside the best way, as you already know, actually validated some modifications that we needed to make or did give us a brand new perspective on another items. I believe by way of feeling extra Halo, we spent a lot time determining methods to make a Halo present, and now we’re very a lot about how do we actually craft this Halo story and unbelievable story that David’s written, and the way can we make it have that type of visceral really feel and depth that these Halo tales are about, proper? And the way do we have now every bit of it really feel far more actual? I believe we did some nice visible world-building in Season 1. I believe with Season 2, all of it comes collectively, so you actually really feel you are in it versus seeing items of it.”
This sophomore season makes a significant change by swapping in a brand new author and showrunner, David Wiener, who was charged with bringing these modifications to life within the follow-up marketing campaign. “I did current a imaginative and prescient, an thought of a tone that we needed to make use of to inform the story, a perspective that we needed to be in,” Wiener says. “The story is advised from a really subjective viewpoint with our Spartans by their rapid circumstances. And the result’s a really kinetic, very driving, gritty, extra actual expression, and I believe it actually lends itself to the style.”
![](https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/02/02/ffb43fcb/halo_202_as_1003_1073.jpg)
Wiener, who served as showrunner for 2020’s Courageous New World, is claimed to convey a darker tone to the collection, which ought to translate effectively to the story Season 2 hopes to inform. “David introduced extremely sturdy underpinnings, which was a vital factor for us for Season 2, each in how he needed to inform the story, but in addition within the writing and characterization itself,” Wolfkill says. “That was one thing we’re actually dedicated to with the ability to ship in Season 2 on high of the tonal modifications and getting again to some issues that really feel extra Halo of their focus by way of that groundedness.”
Having seen the primary two episodes, the hassle to get again to creating certain Halo looks like Halo is obvious, however I am unsure it totally achieves that in these first two releases. Despite the fact that I’ve come round on Pablo Schreiber’s Grasp Chief voice, he nonetheless removes his helmet any likelihood he will get when not in fight, so for those who have been hoping it could be as glued to his shoulders as it’s within the video games, you seemingly will not be extra happy by Season 2 in that regard. And whereas I am fascinated by the interpersonal and inner conflicts involving the Spartans, the primary two episodes nonetheless get too slowed down by peripheral characters and universe-building in corners that do not but really feel consequential to the fascinating elements of the story. Nonetheless, the concerted effort by the writing and directing group to make it really feel extra just like the supply materials is obvious, giving me hope for the remainder of the season.
![](https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/02/02/ae48a350/halo_201_as_0922_4792_rt.jpg)
Nevertheless, Season 2 begins with the very best scene within the collection to this point, showcasing Grasp Chief because the ruthless and beyond-capable tremendous soldier followers of the video games know him to be. In that scene, he takes on a number of Elites in a manner that may make John Wick proud. “I believed it was necessary to ascertain the tone of the present from the get-go in a very sturdy, assured manner,” Wiener says. “As a lot because it’s a couple of planet getting glassed, it is actually about what it is wish to tangle with a Sangheili warrior that is nine-foot-five and has an Power Sword, and what’s it wish to anticipate that your enemy is on the market within the fog you could’t see them till they’re proper on high of you. Introducing that element of worry; it is nearly like we’re horror adjoining.”
With the duo publicly stating that Halo Season 2 adapts The Fall of Attain storyline into live-action, I eagerly anticipate how the present portrays that pivotal occasion in Halo historical past. If you happen to’re additionally wanting ahead to that, you’ll be able to watch the primary two episodes on Paramount+ on February 8, with weekly releases rolling out from then.