After years in development, a ten-episode TV series adaptation of the “HALO” franchise was given the go-ahead by Showtime in 2018.
Then, back in February this year, came the announcement that the still in production series would be moving to ViacomCBS’ other streamer Paramount+ for a 2022 premiere.
The series was effectively switched with the upcoming series adaptation of “The Man Who Fell to Earth” which had started at Paramount+ and is now at Showtime.
Appearing at the Television Critics Association press tour on Tuesday, Showtime’s Gary Levine discussed the change saying:
“We started developing Halo seven years ago when there was no Paramount+ or even the glimmer of an idea about it, and it was always a bit of an odd fit, you know – what is Showtime doing taking a first-person shooter video game and putting it with their dramas?”
Showtime President Jana Winograde adds that while it was at Showtime they were able to:
“The truth is that [Halo] was always a bit of an outlier for us in terms of its fit in the Showtime universe. We did an amazing job of imbuing into the series, the character drama that we’re so well known for. But at the end of the day, it is a big, broad, big tent show.
So when Paramount Plus came into being, it really was a natural fit there…But these are two distinctly different services with two very different missions. And I think we will stay true to our brand and we have high hopes for Paramount Plus to define itself.”
Pablo Schreiber, Natascha McElhone and Bokeem Woodbine star in the “HALO” series which is expected to have a major launch next year.
Source: Variety