Halo is a huge series inspired by the hit game which is now available to watch in both the US and UK.
The video game franchise for Xbox was first released in 2001 and is a first-person and multiplayer shooter game set in a future where the main characters are forced to battle alien invaders. There have been 16 Halo video games (eight considered part of the main story and eight spinoff games), including the recently released Halo Infinite.
One of Paramount Plus' original series. Halo is created and executive produced by Steven Kane (The Last Ship, The Closer), as well as having Steven Spielberg as an executive producer.
Here is everything we know about the Halo TV series.
Halo release date
Halo is now coming to the UK and the first episode will be shown on Channel 5 on Wednesday 22 June 2022 at 10pm (see our UK TV Guide for full listings). Channel 5 though is only showing the first episode. If you want to watch the whole series you will need a Paramount Plus UK subscription. So you could try it on Channel 5 and see if you like it before signing up.
Meanwhile, Halo has already been released in the US and is also available on Paramount Plus. If you want to enjoy the whole series of Halo you need to sign up to Paramount Plus wherever you are in the world!
Paramount Plus Key Info
- What is it? Paramount's streaming service features bags of movies, TV dramas and plenty of original content.
- Is there a free trial? Yes, there's a one-week Paramount Plus free trial, so you can try before you buy.
- How much does it cost in the US? $4.99 (with ads) or $9.99 (ads-free).
- How much does it cost in the UK? £6.99 (there's just one plan).
Halo cast
The lead role of the Master Chief is played by Pablo Schreiber. Schreiber is best known for his prison guard George Mendez in the Netflix series Orange is the New Black and the Starz series American Gods, as well as having appeared in action movies like 13 Hours and Den of Thieves.
Joining Schreiber in the cast is Natascha McElhone (Californication), Bokeem Woodbine (Fargo), Shabana Azmi (Fire), Natasha Culzac (The Witcher), Olive Gray (Half Moon Investigations), Yerin Ha (Reef Break), Bentley Kalu (Avengers: Age of Ultron), Kate Kennedy (Catastrophe), Charlie Murphy (Peaky Blinders), Danny Sapani (Penny Dreadful) and Jen Taylor, who is returning to voice Cortana — the AI system that assists the human from the Halo video games.
Here is who everyone is playing:
- Pablo Schreiber - Master Chief
- Natascha McElhone - Dr. Catherine Halsey
- Bokeem Woodbine - Soren-066
- Jen Taylor - Cortana
- Yerin Ha - Quan Ah
- Shabana Azmi - Admiral Margaret Parangosky
- Olive Gray - Dr. Miranda Keyes
- Charlie Murphy - Makee
- Kate Kennedy - Kai-125
- Bentley Kalu - Vannak-134
- Natasha Culzac - Riz-028
- Danny Sapani - Captain Jacob Keyes
Get some additional background on the characters and the actors in our who's who of the Halo cast.
Halo plot
Halo the TV series takes the general concept of the popular video game series but expands the story. Here is the official synopsis:
"In its adaptation for Paramount Plus, Halo will take place in the universe that first came to be in 2001 with the launch of Xbox’s first Halo game. Dramatizing an epic 26th-century conflict between humanity and an alien threat known as the Covenant, Halo the series will weave deeply drawn personal stories with action, adventure and a richly imagined vision of the future."
Halo is a Paramount Plus original series, meaning that anyone wanting to watch it will need to be a subscriber to the Paramount Plus streaming service.
Currently, Paramount Plus is available in the US, the UK, Canada, the Nordics, Australia and Latin America.
Halo trailers
There have been multiple trailers released for Halo, all of which tease the scale and action of the series, as well as some of the human elements going on away from the battlefield. Check all of the trailers out directly below:
Halo season 1 episode guide
Here's a summary of each episode of Halo season 1 as per Paramount Plus:
Halo season 1 episode 1, "Contact"
In the year 2552, humans on the planet Madrigal have been fighting for independence from Earth, but a fatal encounter with the Alien Covenant complicates things. Master Chief John 117 and his super-soldier 'Spartans' join the fight. After the battle, Master Chief heads to his home planet of Reach with a Madrigal survivor and a mysterious object he discovered on the planet. But a controversial order has John questioning his mission, and himself.
Halo season 1 episode 2, "Unbound"
John takes Kwan to an old friend and learns more about the mystery object, which the Covenant and Makee are determined to steal. With the alien threat growing, Dr. Halsey has a plan to deal with John’s unpredictable behavior.
Halo season 1 episode 3, "Emergence"
John meets his new partner and he discovers secrets inside his own memory. Kwan wants to return to Madrigal to continue her people’s fight for independence, but Soren has other plans for her. Makee initiates her plan to retrieve the Madrigal object, with deadly consequences.
Halo season 1 episode 4, "Homecoming"
Guided by his visions, John takes Halsey and Cortana back to where it all began, looking for answers from his past. With Soren along for protection, Kwan goes in search of an army. Meanwhile, John’s behavior inspires another Spartan to begin a journey of self-discovery. And Miranda discovers a possible link between the artifact and something much larger.
Halo season 1 episode 5, "Reckoning"
"On the run and out of options, Kwan and Soren have a difference of opinion. With the possibility of finding the mysterious Halo on everyone’s minds, John makes a horrible discovery. And the war rears its ugly head."
Halo season 1 episode 6, "Solace"
Survivors from battle return to Reach. John confronts Dr. Halsey and the lies of his past. The new prisoner seems to know John better than he knows himself. Determined to understand more, John turns back to the mystery artifact, which shows him something truly startling.
Halo season 1 episode 7, "Inheritance"
Kwan’s journey to uncover her family’s “true purpose” takes her deep into the deserts of Madrigal. Soren obsesses over unfinished business.
Halo season 1 episode 8, "Allegiance"
John and Makee come to terms with their shared vision. Halsey has one last chance to save her mission, and herself. As things come to a head, everyone must choose a side.
Halo season 1 episode 9, "Transcendence"
Beaten, battered and betrayed, John 117 leads the Spartans on a suicide mission to find the Halo and save humanity. But at what price?
Will there be a Halo season 2?
Yes. Before Halo even aired its first episode, Paramount Plus had already approved a second season for the show. So the journey of Masterchief is going to continue. Exactly when that is going to happen is a mystery — no information has been shared on when season 2 may be ready.
