Halo, a story set in the 26th century about the battle between humans and aliens, is one of the most successful video game TV adaptations. Despite initial controversy over the portrayal of the main character and a plot that deviated from canon, the series was the most-watched title on its parent platform, Paramount+, in 2022.
Halo’s creators were apparently prepared for the success of their show, as they green-lit season 2 before season 1 even made its streaming debut. The new instalment of the series is fast approaching, and we’ve rounded up everything you can expect from it.
Halo season 2 release date
The first two episodes of the new season of Halo will debut on Paramount+ on Thursday, 8 February 2024. The following episodes will appear on the service every week.
The second season of the show consists of eight episodes.
In the US, the basic, ad-supported subscription called Paramount+ Essential costs $5.99 per month or $59.99 per year. You can also upgrade your tier and get ad-free Paramount+ with SHOWTIME for $11.99 per month or $119.99 per year.
In the UK, there’s only one subscription tier, which is thankfully ad-free. This costs £6.99 per month or £69.90 per year.
Remember that Paramount+ offers a 7-day free trial.
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Halo season 2 plot
Spoilers for season 1 below.
The series is centred around the character of supersoldier John-117, known as Master Chief. He commands an elite military Spartan unit that leads the fight against aliens known as the Covenant.
Unlike his game prototype, John often appears without a helmet and has a more human character. However, at the dramatic end of season 1, he decides to merge with Cortana, his AI companion, in order to survive. This may mean that his personality will change in the show’s second season.
As the creators have confirmed, viewers will experience a time jump at the beginning of season 2. About six months will pass since the first season’s finale events. During that time, John and his team will recover from the bloody battle they participated in and prepare for the next fight.
As the official description of season 2 goes:
In season two, Master Chief John-117 leads his team of elite Spartans against the alien threat known as the Covenant. In the wake of a shocking event on a desolate planet, John cannot shake the feeling that his war is about to change and risks everything to prove what no one else will believe – that the Covenant are preparing to attack humanity’s greatest stronghold. With the galaxy on the brink, John embarks on a journey to find the key to humankind’s salvation, or its extinction — the Halo.
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Halo season 2 cast
In the new episodes, we will see many familiar faces from season 1:
- Pablo Schreiber as Master Chief
- Jen Taylor as Cortana
- Bokeem Woodbine as Soren
- Shabana Azmi as Admiral Margaret Parangosky
- Natascha McElhone as Dr. Catherine Halsey
- Natasha Culzac as Riz
- Olive Gray as Dr. Miranda Keyes
- Bentley Kalu as Vannak
- Kate Kennedy as Kai
- Yerin Ha as Kwan Ha
- Danny Sapani as Captain Jacob Keyes
- Tylan Bailey as Kessler
- Fiona O’Shaughnessy as Laera
The cast also features new actors. Joseph Morgan plays James Ackerson, an ambitious, high-ranked officer of UNSC Army. He is the main rival of Dr. Catherine Halsey and a person behind the Spartan-III program, which allows for cheaper and faster production of supersoldiers.
As Morgan describes his character (via Collider):
You’re gonna first of all go, ‘Oh, I hate this guy,’ and then I’m going to win you over, and you’re gonna go, ‘Goddamn. I want to hate him, but I’m starting to really love him,’ and then by the end, you’re gonna go, ‘You know what? That guy, he’s my favourite character.’
Christina Rodlo appears as Talia Perez, a young soldier who joins the Spartan-III project.
Halo season 2 trailer
Another round of war awaits the heroes in the official trailer for season 2:
The second trailer introduces James Ackerson, a ruthless colonel of UNSC Army, who starts a SPARTAN-III program in the games.
