HALO Star Pablo Schreiber Suggests Fans Who Don't Like Master Chief Removing His Helmet Should Stop Watching

HALO Star Pablo Schreiber Suggests Fans Who Don't Like Master Chief Removing His Helmet Should Stop Watching

The decision to remove Master Chief's helmet in Halo has been divisive from the start, but star Pablo Schreiber has doubled down on the decision by telling upset fans to "get used to it." Check it out...

By JoshWilding - Jan 30, 2024 06:01 AM EST
Filed Under: Halo
Source: Collider (via GameFragger.com)

Paramount+'s Halo TV series immediately upset Xbox fans by removing Master Chief's helmet. The expectation had been that, like Pedro Pascal in The Mandalorian, Pablo Schreiber would only provide the hero's voice and perhaps make one or two appearances somewhere down the line. 

The first episode wasted no time in giving the mysterious hero a face (a major departure from the video games) and, if what we've seen from season 2 is any indication, Schreiber will be spending even more time without the helmet on when the series returns next month. 

"Hmm, well, that one you’ll have to get used to," the actor told Collider (via GameFragger.com) when they mentioned the complaints to him. "We established that in the first episode that was going to happen. That's what our show is about; it's about exploring the dynamic between John and Master Chief."

"So, if you're not on board with that one, you might as well give up. As far as what to say to gamers, come on back and see the differences between Season 1 and Season 2 and see if you like it."

"Again, we started the first episode by taking the helmet off. He takes the helmet off throughout the season because that's the story we're telling. We're telling a story about the dynamic between the supersoldier, Master Chief, who's been stuck in this suit of armor for his entire life, and his burgeoning humanity and his experience with humanity - that's John."

"And so to tell that story, you have to have both sides," Schreiber concluded. "You have to have access to the actor's face. You have to create a dual experience for the character. That's our show."

In other words, if you don't like it, stop watching! That's probably not the best message for Halo's lead star to put out to fans shortly before it returns, particularly when they make up a large percentage of the show's audience. Regardless, the decision to keep Master Chief's helmet off is one that the creative team remains committed to. 

Schreiber did go on to suggest that they've taken the complaints into account and used them to find what he believes to be the right balance of helmet and no helmet. 

"For me, it's very important that the scenes when Master Chief is Master Chief, he's Master Chief, and we experience that. We experience what his experience is, and it doesn't include taking your helmet off in the middle of a battle or at the end of a battle just so you can get face-time, right?"

"That's the stuff that I want to do away with, and I think we’re keeping control of that pretty well this season. But you're gonna have experiences with John because that's the story we're telling. We're telling the story of both sides of this character."

When Halo returns with its second season on February 8, we'll pick up with Master Chief John-117 as he leads his team of elite Spartans against the alien threat known as the Covenant. In the wake of a shocking event on a desolate planet, John cannot shake the feeling that his war is about to change and risks everything to prove what no one else will believe - that the Covenant is preparing to attack humanity’s greatest stronghold.

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TheyDont
TheyDont - 1/30/2024, 6:50 AM
I did better by not starting.
Urubrodi
Urubrodi - 1/30/2024, 6:56 AM
Shows/films based on games that can't capture the essense of the property (aka staying true to the material) almost always fail. Cause if you lose the main audience of the show which will be those who played the games, what hope do you have in getting a general audience following?
Blergh
Blergh - 1/30/2024, 7:17 AM
@Urubrodi - exactly. And it’s not like it can’t be done. It has been done with the web series.

The first Mortal Kombat movie is a cheesy, stupid action movie….and that’s what it needed to be because the games were exactly that. That’s why it worked and is beloved.
They have Assassin’s Creed an admirable go as well
mastakilla39
mastakilla39 - 1/30/2024, 11:41 AM
@Urubrodi - It worked though that's why it got season 2. Halo was reported to have big viewership from general audiences on Paramount+ despite the fan backlash. Their goal was to make a show not for the fans but for people who don't know Halo and it's apparently working.

I think its Trash but their strategy worked for the target audience.
Demigods
Demigods - 1/30/2024, 7:05 AM
Again... Mandolorian did it just fine, and how many times did they show his face? How long did they wait to show his face? Exactly.
Conquistador
Conquistador - 1/30/2024, 7:25 AM
@Demigods - To be honest the expectations are different there. Mando was a new character then.

I think the right way to do Master chief justice is to not have him as the main character. Kind of like how they used him in Forward Onto Dawn.

The lore is so deep that we can have Laskey or a new character as the main leaving Master Chief in the background as the mythic mysterious character he is, or even have every episode be from another established character's POV.
Demigods
Demigods - 1/30/2024, 8:57 AM
@UniqNo - I'd be fine with that, especially if the goal is to make the story about the dilemma between super soldier (well, Sailor) and human. I'd be fine with that.
All that I'm saying is that Pablo is incorrect by saying "you need to take the helmet off to really feel the pathos of the character. Mandolorian did exactly that... hell, it's actually not all that dissimilar, when you think about it. Badass race of superbadasses in space who never take off their helmets because dedication to the cause is more important that individuality. I get that the game did it because we were all supposed to feel like Master Cheif and all, but the in world explanations are similar enough that saying "you need to do this in order to adapt it for TV" is simply a lazy excuse IMO, since someone already did it well.

I like your approach though and think that could have been a much Better way to have tackled it tbh, especially if they were trying to go this human route.
Conquistador
Conquistador - 1/30/2024, 10:18 AM
@Demigods - If Mando wasn't taking place in the Star Wars Universe I don't think they'd have much of a repeat audience.

Brand new character in a well known Universe in the first live action Star Wars series....so i think the expextations were different, even if only slightly.

Halo on the other hand, they're having to adapt/retrll the lore thats already been established. I kind of understand Pablo's point, but i disagree with how much he needs to show his face. Dont forget, chief does take his helmet off in the games it's just that we the player never see his face because at that moment we are him... When you're watching it as a show though, you're very much the outside observer rather than being able to interact. Does that make sense?
Demigods
Demigods - 1/30/2024, 3:04 PM
@UniqNo - that only happens once though, right? Well maybe at the beginning as well, when he dons his helmet for the first time.
Conquistador
Conquistador - 1/30/2024, 4:03 PM
@Demigods - If i rememeber correctly, it happened once with Bungie at the end of Combat Evolved and again with 343 at the end of Halo 4, with the Legendary ending giving you a quick glimpse of his eyes.
Mercwitham0uth
Mercwitham0uth - 1/30/2024, 7:10 AM
I gave up after the 4th episode. Was never a Halo fan anyway. Never understood the love for the franchise.
Blergh
Blergh - 1/30/2024, 7:19 AM
@Mercwitham0uth - action power fantasy, you’re essentially a super soldier exploring beautiful locales and have smooth gameplay.
The story is fine but never really THE focus.

Should have been more focused on action
RedFury
RedFury - 1/30/2024, 7:12 AM
From his perspective I completely understand. He's an actor, and wants to act with his face so he's able to further his talents, and career possibilities.

But as a Halo fan I feel like this was a mistake. I think they should have taken the Mando route and committed to the visage of a faceless Master Chief. The whole tone of the show just doesn't match what the games are. It's a shame.
Blergh
Blergh - 1/30/2024, 7:16 AM
Actors wanting their faces to be seen for more exposure. It’s what it is.
Pedro Pascal went around that issue by having less work and only doing mostly voice appearances as Mando with the the occasional live action appearance for Helmet off shots.
This dude probably saw Chief as a way to cement himself as A list and needs the helmet off for his “star to rise”. Might not even be his doing but his agents trying to turn him into a bigger name.

They should have gone the cheaper route and gotten Steve Downes for Chief.

As for the show, it’s bad beyond the helmet. It’s just symbolic for the bigger picture. Which is dire.
It’s essentially trying to be like BSG with split storytelling and throwing Chief into weird relationships while he is more of a side character experiencing these events anyways. You could argue that they tried to give him more depth but if turning him into a CWish romantic lead is what these writers consider deep then I don’t want it.
For me it worked with Forward Unto Dawn, we had the teen drama with characters deliberately written for it and Chief coming in to save the day.

How to fix it? Offer Schreiber more free time, bring him in as vocal talent and get a stuntman to do the main parts.
Focus on the invasions instead of human relationships if you can’t write dialogue.

Speaking of the CW, the only reason I’ll give season 2 a chance is for Joseph Morgan. Him and Daniel Gillies elevated the CWs acting chops by 100.
Odekahn
Odekahn - 1/30/2024, 7:41 AM
He basically says don’t watch if you don’t like it (kinda like Frosk and G4) then goes on to say give season 2 a chance.

Yeah, no thanks!
WEAPONXOXOXO
WEAPONXOXOXO - 1/30/2024, 8:02 AM
tvs have these buttons that you could change the channels. and if you play with the bunny ears just right you might get a different channel
SonOfAGif
SonOfAGif - 1/30/2024, 8:11 AM
Alienating a fanbase just to inflate your ego and try to secure some star power is what got Brie Larson in trouble in the first place. It's clear these actors do not care about a character or source material and will inject their cocky and conceited attitudes in every interview to remind us of that. Then when the project fails, Suddenly the finger pointing begins like Ray Fischer.
bobevanz
bobevanz - 1/30/2024, 8:12 AM
Surely this well help the naysayers right? Lol I liked him as Mad Sweeney til they BUTCHERED American Gods, I never wanted to see a show canceled so fast after the last season. But this guy acts like we have to see his dumb face. Chief took his helmet off a lot in the novels, but most people played the games.. so keep the helmet on!
bobevanz
bobevanz - 1/30/2024, 8:14 AM
He was one of the religious stooges in Bubble Boy lmao
PartyKiller
PartyKiller - 1/30/2024, 8:15 AM
I haven't watched it. Now I never will. [frick] this guy!
TheShape9859
TheShape9859 - 1/30/2024, 8:25 AM
I think they did. I never finished the first season
Gizmoduck
Gizmoduck - 1/30/2024, 11:56 PM
@TheShape9859 - Same, after a few episodes you could tell its bad and i personally gave up on it, his acting is some of the worst on a show full of B actors too.

AscendedExtra
AscendedExtra - 1/30/2024, 9:05 AM
One step ahead of you, Pablo. I never started.
harryba11zack
harryba11zack - 1/30/2024, 9:19 AM
We have.
Reginator
Reginator - 1/30/2024, 9:36 AM
dont they already have a problem with people not watching?
MrDandy
MrDandy - 1/30/2024, 10:18 AM
Sounds like they stopped watching because everything in the show is abysmal.
AnthonyVonGeek
AnthonyVonGeek - 1/30/2024, 10:41 AM
Another ego driven narcissistic actor exposing themselves. Thought he was a cool actor in American Gods but now he’s so damn annoying. I’ll gladly skip this show.
marvel72
marvel72 - 1/30/2024, 10:52 AM
A Halo show but not for the fans of the games.
grif
grif - 1/30/2024, 11:25 AM
never did so its sounds like we are good buddy

batman001
batman001 - 1/30/2024, 12:19 PM
For somebody who should be trying to get people to watching this terrible show he sure is intent on making sure that MORE people don't watch it.
AvalonX
AvalonX - 1/30/2024, 11:49 PM
First season was awful. Another hollywood guy who doesnt get it. He kind of looks like a goof too. Looks like the guy at my insurance office or something who keeps trying to sell me term insurance and I get to F off.

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