Canceled & Fan-Hated Sci-Fi Series Finds New Life on Netflix, Climbs to Top 10 Fast

Netflix has given the canceled live-action Halo series a second life, and it’s already making waves on the platform.

The first and second seasons of the show, which originally aired on Paramount+, became available on Netflix on October 1, and the series has quickly climbed to fourth place on the streaming service’s Top 10 chart.

Halo is based on the famous Xbox video game franchise created by Bungie and developed by 343 Industries.

The series is set in the 26th century, following the war between the United Nations Space Command and the alien alliance known as the Covenant. Pablo Schreiber stars as Master Chief, Natascha McElhone plays Dr. Halsey, and Jen Taylor returns as the voice of Cortana, reprising her role from the games.

The show was developed for Paramount+ by Kyle Killen and Steven Kane, with the first season consisting of nine episodes. The series was renewed for a second season before the first even premiered, with David Wiener taking over as executive producer. Filming for season two ran from September 2022 to May 2023.

Season one premiered in March 2022 and ran until May. Critics praised the action, cast, and visual effects but noted that some of the writing felt derivative and that changes from the game didn’t always land.

Season two, which aired from February to March 2024, received more positive reviews, with many saying it improved on the first season. Despite the critical improvement, Paramount+ canceled the show in July 2024 after just two seasons.

Now on Netflix, Halo is finding a new audience. Fans of the game and newcomers alike are discovering the story of Master Chief and the human-Covenant conflict, and the series’ placement in the Top 10 shows there’s strong interest in the sci-fi adventure.

This shows that a canceled show can still find success on a new platform. Netflix has given Halo a chance to reach fans who might have missed it the first time, and it’s clear the story still resonates. What do you think about Halo finding a second life on Netflix? Share your thoughts in the comments.