Halo TV series remakes Cortana with original actress

IGN can exclusively reveal that Showtime’s Halo TV series has redesigned its actress Cortana, bringing in Jen Taylor for the role. You know Taylor from her role as Cortana in all of the main Halo games, Cortana, the AI ​​who assists (and sometimes activates) Master Chief throughout the game series, was originally intended to be played on television by Natascha McElhone, who was cast in a dual role, also playing Cortana creator Dr. Catherine Halsey.

Due to the planning difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, McElhone can no longer complete her job as Cortana – but will continue as Halsey.

Cortana and Jen Taylor

Step into Jen Taylor, who reprizes the role she played in Halo 1, 2, 3, Reach, 4, 5 and as Microsoft’s virtual assistant on Windows devices. Taylor also played Catherine Halsey in the game series, but that won’t be the case here. It is not yet known whether Taylor will play the role in person or lend her performance to a full CGI character.

Taylor will join Pablo Schreiber as Master Chief, Danny Sapani and Olive Gray as Jacob and Miranda Keyes, Bokeem Woodbine as Soren-066, Shabana Azmi as Admiral Margaret Parangosky and Bentley Kalu, Natasha Culzac and Kate Kennedy as as three new Spartan characters.

The Showtime series is in production with game developers 343 Industries and Amblin Entertainment Steven Spielberg. Peaky Blinders and Black Mirror director Otto Bathurst is to produce the 9-episode first season directly and through management.

It’s unclear exactly what the series’ plot will center on, but Showtime explains that it will dramatize “an epic 26th century conflict between humanity and an alien threat known as the Covenant. Halo will weave personal stories. deeply drawn with action, adventure and a vision of the future richly imagined. “

A major deviation from the games may come in the form of seeing Master Chief’s face, but this is unconfirmed. Behind closed doors we saw Schreiber wearing the iconic chef’s armor and we can tell she looks fantastic.

With the main cast apparently all in place, the only thing left is when we can actually watch the show – a question we unfortunately still can’t answer.

Joe Skrebels is IGN’s News Editor. Follow him on Twitter. Any advice to give us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to [email protected].