Halo video game fans never liked the first season of the series adaptation. However, its popularity among the general audience earned a surprising second season for the Pablo Schreiber-led show. After two seasons at Paramount+, the streamer announced that the series will not move forward with a third season.
Fans, especially the ones aware of the game lore, welcomed the move from Paramount+. They wished that the series could’ve learned a lesson or two from successful video game adaptations like Fallout and The Last of Us. Interestingly, both seasons of Halo received critical acclaim for their action scenes, cast, and visual effects.
Paramount+ Cancels Halo After Two Seasons and Fans Blame The Derivative Writing
Paramount+ released a statement announcing the cancelation of its live-action adaptation of the video game, Halo. The series ran for two seasons at the streamer. Pablo Schreiber starred as Master Chief John-117, a genetically engineered Spartan supersoldier engaged in a 26th-century bloody war.
The series was developed by Kyle Killen and Steven Kane and the duo served as showrunners before David Wiener took over in Season 2. The streamer shared in their statement that they were extremely proud of the series and thanked their partners, showrunner, and the cast. Paramount’s statement said (via Variety):
Paramount+ can confirm that ‘Halo’ will not move forward with a third season on the service. We are extremely proud of this ambitious series and would like to thank our partners at Xbox, 343 Industries and Amblin Television, along with showrunner and executive producer David Wiener, his fellow executive producers, the entire cast led by Pablo Schreiber as Master Chief and the amazing crew for all their outstanding work. We wish everyone the best going forward.
When the news was shared on Instagram, fans shared their thoughts on why the series did not last at Paramount. The biggest criticism of the series among gamers was the derivative writing that lost touch with the source material. Fans hated that the show took too much liberty with the canon and even went on to take off the Master Chief’s helmet.
One fan shared that the series could’ve taken the route of Amazon Prime’s Fallout, which stayed true to its source material. Another fan was disappointed that Paramount ruined something that had great potential. One fan commented that Halo fans deserved better after the positive response for shows like The Last of Us and Fallout. Some of the fan reactions read:
They could’ve learned a thing or two from Fallout.
@pillefose
Ruined something that could’ve been the best thing ever. Let’s hope the Gears movie is good.
@randomguyfromitaly_
We halo fans deserve better especially seeing how last of us and fallout turned out.
@ryan_cregg
This is what happens when you don’t stick to lore.
@anakins_acolyte
Or or hear me out let’s actually make it cannon and NOT TAKE THE HELMET OFF.
@It_merica129
I’m surprised it even had a second season it was so bad
@vancouverite15
However, from a critical standpoint, the cancelation comes after the second season showed a massive improvement from the
first. The Rotten Tomatoes score for the second season was 90%, which compared to the first season’s 70% was a huge jump. The website consensus read that Halo‘s second season was leaner and meaner and came close to realizing the IP’s potential.
Halo Can Still Continue On A Different Streaming Platform
While Paramount chose to cut ties with its partners on developing further seasons, Xbox, Amblin TV, and 343 Industries may look for other streamers for a third season. According to a statement from 343 Industries, the company remains committed to “broadening the Halo universe in different ways in the future” (via Variety).
This could mean that Pablo Schreiber and Jen Taylor can still reprise their role in a potential third season. The series also stars Natascha McElhone, Jen Taylor, Bokeem Woodbine, Shabana Azmi, Natasha Culzac, Olive Gray, and others.
The series’ data also doesn’t paint a bad run at Paramount. According to Deadline, the first episode of the show set the record for the most-watched series premiere in 24 hours on Paramount+. The first season was also once the second-most watched original series for the streamer (via Variety).
Halo Seasons 1 & 2 are now available for streaming on Paramount+.
