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[CyberPanda]

Halo x Game of Thrones is the mash-up we never knew we wanted

If you didn’t already hold out high hopes for the Halo TV show, you might just want to reconsider your position. That’s because it’s got some very lofty goals in its sight, not least attempting to match and mirror Game of Thrones, quite possibly the most popular TV show ever. With the financial might of Microsoft at its back, this (hopefully) isn’t just 343 Industries whispering sweet nothings to stoke the already-frenzied fires of an expectant fan base.

Speaking to The Game Maker’s Notebook podcast (H/T Gamespot), 343 transmedia boss Kiki Wolfkill (yes, that is their real name and, yes, it is impossibly cool), was asked about what the Halo TV show could be compared to in the medium.

Their answer, though, might raise some eyebrows: “"It's hard to find an analog. We talk about Game of Thrones a lot in terms of scope and scale and complexity of relationships,” before expanding that “A lot of the background of Halo is this sort of political drama. It's something that [is mentioned] really lightly in the games… Some of that [Game of Thrones] complexity is interesting."

So, while we shouldn’t be expecting Red Weddings involving Sgt. Johnson, there is a lot we can at least hold out hope for. Epic battles, obviously, should be the first on the list. Imagine Master Chief – who we now know is being played by Pablo Schreiber – weaving through a gallery of Grunts and Brutes as all hell rains down in the background. Goosebumps.

But it might be the political situation that has caught the attention of those who are entrenched in Halo lore. If you don’t know your Covenant from your Cortanas, you might not realise there is a deep, rich history of political and religious intrigue bubbling away in the background in the Halo universe. Setting up that framework for Master Chief’s story, including all the backstabs and betrayals that come with it, could reap rewards in the long run, instead of the Halo TV show just gunning for merely being a one-dimensional video game adaptation.

Hilariously, Wolfkill says the Halo TV show won’t be matching HBO’s fantastic epic in all respects. Namely, there’s “no incest” and that “If you're looking for that, you won't find it here.”

So… yeah. Apart from that, the Halo TV show could be well on its way to filling the Game of Thrones-shaped hole in our heart (and telly boxes).

The Halo TV show will be similar in "scope and scale" to Game of Thrones says 343 boss

Halo x Game of Thrones is the mash-up we never knew we wanted

www.gamesradar.com

 

[Potato Chip PRO]

Time will tell... Hopefully it won't flop on its first season.

 

[Deputy Moonman]

I'm not going to expect Game of Thrones level success, but I don't doubt that MS will try and match its quality and scope. That doesn't mean they'll achieve it, but they'll try. Honestly, Halo is a perfect story to do something similar, as the lore is layers on layers deep. If they can adapt a lot of the books, and come out with a compelling timeline of events, with good character development and story-telling, consider me hyped.

 

[DunDunDunpachi]

I'll give it two seasons before they wrap things up unexpectedly for the third.

 

[SonGoku]

Can't fucking wait anymore, been waiting forever for this.

 

[nowhat]

The last GoT season had a budget of $15M per episode. I somehow have a hard time believing this will do the same.

 

[kingpotato]

That mini film that came out a few years ago was pretty good, I could see this working.

 

[Iced Arcade]

Halo has the lore, depth and popularity for it that's for sure.

 

[Baron Samedi]

I'm glad we're setting realistic expectations.

Halo has the lore, depth and popularity for it that's for sure.

Look, I like Halo, but objectively it doesn't have the depth ASOIAF has.

That being said, I hope to be pleasantly surprised.

 

[Justin9mm]

The last GoT season had a budget of $15M per episode. I somehow have a hard time believing this will do the same.

It's a stupid article, yeah I'm sure the millions of females that love a good romantic soapy drama are just going to love Halo! They are in no way similar at all.

 

[Iced Arcade]

I'm glad we're setting realistic expectations.



Look, I like Halo, but objectively it doesn't have the depth ASOIAF has.

That being said, I hope to be pleasantly surprised.

What I meant and said is... it has depth, didn't say it had more or matched. I don't think many if any franchises could claim so.

 

[Grumpy Toe Nail]

It's a stupid article, yeah I'm sure the millions of females that love a good romantic soapy drama are just going to love Halo! They are in no way similar at all.

I dont think the shows is based directly off any specific games. As in they more than have the capabilities to run the show into the ground and make into a shitty soapy romantic drama. Hopefully they don't.

 

[Von Hugh]

 

[Slings and Arrows]

I hope so. As long as it isn't too cheesy and all about dem feels.

We will see what happens. More good TV is never a bad thing.

 

[Coulomb_Barrier]

More like it's gonna have the same scale and budget as sci-fi series Andromeda, starring Kevin Sorbo.

 

[Holammer]

Oh right, I forgot they're actually working on a TV series.
Now Halo on Steam makes perfect sense. It is a great way to promote the brand and drum up interest before it airs in 2020. If the game becomes a hit among Chinese gamers like PUBG did, the checks write themselves and they'll secure distribution there.

... I might be reading too much into it, or is MS engaged in some clever 4D chess marketing?

 

[Sorne]

I reeeeeallly hope we get to see some of it from the covenant side as well. I loved how they introduced them in Halo 2 as an intelligent species, with political hierarchies etc. and not just aliens to kill because THEY BAD ALIENS.

 

[Hendrick's]

Master Chief is a eunuch.

 

[Breakfast at Noon]

Sure it will.

 

[JimiNutz]

Halo certainly has the lore behind it that could be adapted into an epic show that is similar in scale and scope.

I very much doubt that Showtime are gonna be pumping in the money required to pull that off though.

 

[Bungie]

Hope it's worth the wait and they nail master chief as a character.

 

[J-Roderton]

Mmhmm.

 

[Dr.D00p]

Cheap talk....Every TV show out there with a streaming TV budget behind it has the goal to be the 'next Game Of Thrones'.

 

[AV]

Master Chief nuking earth in the 2nd to last episode confirmed.

 

[Mexen]

3 seasons is my personal sweet spot

 

[Jon Neu]

Halo has the lore, depth and popularity for it that's for sure.

Now it just needs a script.

 

[mejin]

that's an MS employee all right

 

[Deputy Moonman]

Cheap talk....Every TV show out there with a streaming TV budget behind it has the goal to be the 'next Game Of Thrones'.

I don't think it's cheap talk, necessarily. It's okay to set a goal. No one is going to be like, "well I think we want to aim for sci-fi channel levels of good this time around."

 

[Ichabod]

Have they said what broadcast service the show will be on?

 

[Badlucktroll]

I bet alot of this show's drama will have master chief unmasked and wearing a futuristic t shirt or some shit.

 

[Angry_Megalodon]

 

[Shifty]

When the fanbase has turned on its collective heel and reacted so poorly that even non-GoT normies like myself are aware of the sudden shift into massive shitshow.

What a perfect time to announce your inspiration

 

[Journey]

I don't think it's cheap talk, necessarily. It's okay to set a goal. No one is going to be like, "well I think we want to aim for sci-fi channel levels of good this time around."

LMAO exactly

 

[sgurschick]

More like it's gonna have the same scale and budget as sci-fi series Andromeda, starring Kevin Sorbo.

Which was a damn good show.

 

[Sony Pony 101]

If I am not mistaken, I believe they even confirmed it the TV show won't follow cannon story. Which is a huge shame.

 

[Xenon]

Poor timing to compare yourself to The Game of Thrones. Scope is only as good as the characters that fill it. This is the biggest hurdle for a series who's strongest character is a stoic lone wolf hero.

 

[Dynasty8]

As a big Halo fan, no it won't.

 

[MilkyJoe]

So, it'll start good, teeter in the middle and then fall face first into the shitter? Got it.

 

[SpartanN92]

Man I’m probably one of the biggest Halo fans on Gaf and I have ZERO faith that this show will be any good.

Let’s start with the fact that this show was announced in May 2013!!! They announced this show so far in advance it was insane.
Then there was the statement that (I’m paraphrasing here) characters genders/ethnicities would be changed to fit their intersectional check list.
And finally this week the remark about the series being non canon.

I’m calling it now, this show will be complete garbage.

 

[nush]

This is 343's standard promo MO. I've been in a meeting with them before the Halo 4 launch and they were talking about how that game and the franchise was going to be direct quote "A cultural touchstone like Star Wars and Harry Potter". I didn't say anything at that meeting becuse money was on the table but I was thinking that cultural touchstone was impossible becuse all they had was a mute space marine and a sexy hologram not a diverse cast needed to be either Harry Potter or Star Wars. That observation still has not changed. No you are NEVER going to be Games of Thrones either becuse you've done nothing to diversify your core characters since then.

 

[Dontero]

I'll give it two seasons before they wrap things up unexpectedly for the third.

Half a season. Halo isn't big name anymore and it all looks like remedy trainwreck idea of joining game with tv series.

 

[juliotendo]

For whatever reason it’s hard for me to see Showtime putting in actual effort into this. Creating a believable Halo universe is going to require a lot of effects, trickery, and post production work that requires a lot of $$$.

There’s a huge risk this can become a total disaster too if not properly done.

 

[joe_zazen]

You know, the best part of Star Wars was the trade disputes and political manoeuvring, so this is great news to me.

I hope halo has a senator jar jar.

 

[Spukc]

It will beat marvel end game numbers

 

[CuNi]

I gotta say first, that I really love the Halo franchise to no end, but damn.. this enthusiasm is cringy.

 

[Kadayi]

Reel that kind of talk in 343 before it bites you in the ass.

 

[Tiamat2san]

On which streaming platform will be the halo show?

 

[mckmas8808]

Nobody believes this.

 

[mave198]

No it won't

 

[Clear]

GoT has/had international appeal. Halo, not so much.

Especially so as if you've not actually played the games there's pretty much nothing to grab onto as a franchise. Master Chief is more an outfit than a character.