Gaming icon Master Chief's face will be revealed in the new Halo TV series

[Jimmy2x]

Highly anticipated: John-117, also known as Master Chief, is one of gaming's most recognizable characters despite never being shown without his iconic helmet. In some ways the character's anonymity is the very thing that has allowed players from all over the world to connect and immerse themselves in the game's storyline. But in a recent interview with IGN, 343 confirmed that the upcoming Halo TV show will finally unmask Master Chief as an important part of the show's storyline.

Ever since his first deployment, Halo's armored protagonist has been the face of the Halo franchise and Xbox gaming as well as non-game related merchandise ranging from t-shirts to Mountain Dew.

And now, thanks to Paramount Plus, our hero can add acting to his long list of achievements. But this achievement comes at a controversial cost, as fans will catch their first glimpse of a helmetless Master Chief.

Whether or not to reveal Master Chief's identity has been a hot topic as old as the game itself.

According to Kiki Wolfkill, executive producer of Halo 4 and 343's current Halo franchise transmedia lead, the decision to show Chief's face in the new TV show is critical to the actual story being told.

Fans will recognize the face selected for this important mission as Canadian actor Pablo Schreiber, star of 2016's thriller 13 Hours and the more recent series American Gods.

The decision is expected to be met with mixed emotions, with some fans who have waited years to see Chief's face, while others feel his anonymity was what really lets them connect to the character and storyline.

"I think we set out to tell a character story and a personal story... and once we really got into what that story was, it became clear that you really needed to see the person in the armor and under the helmet,” said Wolfkill when asked about the decision in a recent IGN Fan Fest interview.

There is hope for those fans who aren't excited about seeing Master Chief's face. 343 Industries and Microsoft previously stated the show will take place in a different timeline, exist outside of the game's established canon, and this version of Master Chief won't be quite the same as the version known from the games. If that remains true, then one can argue that the real Master Chief's identity will continue to remain a mystery.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/93479-gaming-icon-master-chief-face-revealed-new-halo.html

 

[m4a4]

I mean, they've shown half of his adult face in a Legendary-ending cinematic. And they've shown young chief's face.

At this point, I don't see it being a big deal. The voice (and changing Cortana's blue hue) is more concerning to me lol

 

[jonny888]

Seeing his face will have about the same impact as seeing the Mandalorian's face.

"Oh. Okay."

Not seeing is face is part of the mystery (and in gameplay terms, allows for a greater level of imagination of ones-self in the role). All they'll achieve by showing it is break the mystery. It won't add anything to the character. Kind of a shame they're doing it really.

 

[VitalyT]

Another Stig face hype?

 

[QuantumPhysics]

I mean, they've shown half of his adult face in a Legendary-ending cinematic. And they've shown young chief's face.

At this point, I don't see it being a big deal. The voice (and changing Cortana's blue hue) is more concerning to me lol

They showed his eyebrows.

 

[QuantumPhysics]

Seeing his face will have about the same impact as seeing the Mandalorian's face.

"Oh. Okay."

Not seeing is face is part of the mystery (and in gameplay terms, allows for a greater level of imagination of ones-self in the role). All they'll achieve by showing it is break the mystery. It won't add anything to the character. Kind of a shame they're doing it really.

We knew who the actor was for "The Mandalorian", but not being able to see his face is still important because there could always be makeup in play, or a stunt double

 

[hahahanoobs]

Seeing his face will have about the same impact as seeing the Mandalorian's face.

"Oh. Okay."

Not seeing is face is part of the mystery (and in gameplay terms, allows for a greater level of imagination of ones-self in the role). All they'll achieve by showing it is break the mystery. It won't add anything to the character. Kind of a shame they're doing it really.

You nailed it.

 

[Raytrace3D]

I think his face reveal will be Pedro Pascal.

 

[m4a4]

They showed his eyebrows.

They showed his eyes AND eyebrows. Pffft, get it right lol

 

[Bl00dyMinded]

I can careless... As long as the show is good and entertaining.

 

[AMDGeForceRX4090]

I can careless... As long as the show is good and entertaining.

It won't be.

 

[PurpleYoda]

Well considering the current political and social moods I’m pretty sure he will turn out to be a non binary asian origin person with a perfect “just walked out of the hairstylist” hair to appease all snowflakes of the current cancel generation.. pathetic..

 

[Aryassen]

Well, as one playing Halo right now (for the first time, playing catch up - currently at Halo 4), I can relate, and would prefer the helmet staying in place. Kind of fed up with the artifical "need" of showing how "not black and white" everything is, or "we need to add complexity to the character", let alone with echoing "the message" for the sake of all the snowflakes out there.

Master Chief is as straightforward and solid as can be, I feel no need, whatsoever, to know who his parents were, how did he struggled in his teens, what was the name of his first love, and so on. He is perfect (and yet not 2 dimensional) as is, and if you want to tell the background story, there is still tons of opportunity from picking up from when he was a "rookie" spartan (if such a thing even exists), literally endless...no need to water it down. (and by the way, I have nothing against the selected actor, I liked 13 Hours (just watched it again 2 weeks ago, lol), and his character in it)

 

[MrJelly]

We already know how Pablo Schreiber looks. No big deal if they show his face in the show.