Paramount+ 'Halo': What timeline is the TV series starring Pablo Schreiber set in?
One of the more intriguing questions ahead of the release of 'Halo' on Paramount+ is the time in which the events of the series are set in. What's already confirmed from Executive Producer Steven Spielberg is that the series will exist in an alternate timeline, but it does appear that the series will serve as a bit of a prequel to the first Halo game that features the war between humanity and the alien Covenant. This is well in advance of the discovery of the Halo.
For those unaware, or completely alien to the Haloverse, the first game of the series, 'Halo: Combat Evolved' sees Master Chief Petty Officer John-117 (played by Pablo Schreiber in the TV series) is out to find out more about the discovery of a massive ring in outer space known as Halo. Also staking claim to it is the Covenant, an alien race. Over the course of the game, it is revealed that the Halo is a superweapon with the ability to decimate all sentient life within 25,000 lightyears. That said since the series focuses on the battle between the two parties, it appears the TV series is actually set before Halo's discovery.
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From the 'Halo' trailer, we know that Master Chief discovers an artifact at a Covenant dig site that belongs to the Forerunners, the ancient creators of the Halo rings. The clip also suggests that the UNSC will learn of the ring and the true nature of what it can unfurl. For now, speculations are rife that season 1 will be all about the two sides hunting for the Halo.
Executive producer and franchise creative director Frank O'Connor, in a new debriefing released by the official 'Halo Waypoint' site, shed more light on the new Silver Timeline that's seen on the show. "The TV show timeline – the ‘Silver Timeline’ – is grounded in the universe, characters, and events of what’s been established in the core canon, but will differ in subtle and not so subtle ways in order to tell a grounded, human story, set in the profoundly established Halo universe."
He added: "Where differences and branches arise, they will do so in ways that make sense for the show, meaning that while many events, origins, character arcs, and outcomes will map to the Halo story fans know, there will be surprises, differences, and twists that will run parallel, but not identically to core canon." From this, those looking at the series without any knowledge of the games can do so without having to necessarily pore through the extensive history of the game.
'Halo' premieres March 24 on Paramount+
