Halo executive producer Kiki Wolfkill opened up about the controversial decision to remove Master Chief's helmet in the upcoming Paramount+ adaptation.
Wolfkill shared the rationale behind showing Master Chief's face, in a recent update posted on Halo Waypoint. "[T]he decision to remove Chief's helmet was not a decision made lightly, nor was it a foregone conclusion when we set out to make the show," she explained. "That said, it was always a goal of the show to deliver a differentiated experience from the games, not a carbon copy."
"In our games, you as the player inhabit the [Master Chief's] armor – that experience makes both the mystery and the understanding of who the Master Chief is very personal and sacred..." she added. "With the television series, we want to take you on John's journey and let you experience, as a viewer, his story and evolution from an external, subjective viewpoint; for that, it felt important to see John outside of his armor."
Wolfkill also confirmed Pablo Schreiber, who plays John-117/Master Chief, was involved in the decision-making process and ultimately agreed that removing Master Chief's helmet could be done in a way that respected the character and his history. Even so, it remains a major departure from Master Chief's portrayal in the video game series, which to date has never fully revealed its protagonist's mug.
Wolfkill confirming the Halo series will unmask Master Chief sparked immediate outcry from the original games' devoted fanbase. Nevertheless, recent comments by Schrieber suggest he's banking on winning over these same skeptical fans with his nuanced approach to playing the role. "The opportunity to get to explore those themes and ideas -- the relationship between the warrior and the hero, what are the similarities and where did they diverge -- is what's really interesting for me," said Schreiber of playing Master Chief.
The furor around Master Chief's exposed noggin isn't Halo's first brush with controversy, either. When the first full trailer aired, it showcased what appeared to be a radical redesign of popular supporting character Cortana. Instead of her usual blue-hued skin and overall synthetic appearance, the AI construct sported a decidedly more human look -- a change many fans protested. That said, despite these divisive tweaks to Cortana's design, the character still sounds the same, as voice actor Jen Taylor is reprising the role she originated in the Halo games in the show.
Halo premieres on March 24.
Source: Halo Waypoint
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