If you thought Priyanka Chopra was the biggest global star Bollywood churned out wait till you get a load of Shabana Azami. The Bollywood veteran’s next will be Steven Speilberg’s Halo web series.
Shabana Azami has signed up to essay an important role in legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg’s nine-part web series, Halo. Yes, you guessed it right, it is based on the popular video game. The Arth actress had to dump two other projects to sign up for this.
“It just fell into my lap! I had to give up on two projects I was scheduled to do here but I figured it would be worth it.”
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Halo is one of the most popular video game franchises in the world. Since it’s debut in 2001, the video game series has sold over 77 million copies. The web series is the collaborative creation of Showtime, Amblin Television, and Microsoft.
Surprisingly the Oscar-award winning director will be in the producer’s seat for Halo. Meanwhile, Otto Bathurst, known for helming Black Mirror will be directly the series.
More About Halo
The series based on the mega-popular video game franchise will dramatize the conflict between humanity and an alien race known as ‘The Covenant‘ in the 26th century. So far no one knows how true the web-series makers will stick to the video game’s storyline.
‘The Covenant’ is an alliance of alien species originally ruled by the San’Shyuum (serving as the Prophets) and the Sangheili (Elite warriors). The Covenant’s political actions are fueled by their religious beliefs. Their imperial conquests are said to be for the purpose of securing more knowledge of their gods, the Forerunners.
Showtime described the video game’s adaptation into a web-series the ‘most ambitious ever’. Production of Halo the series is set to begin in Budapest this fall. The premiere is set for 2021.
Before production, the script and cast will be finalized. Halo cast Natascha McElhone, Bokeem Woodbine, Bentley Kalu, Natasha Culzac, and Kate Kennedy.
Pablo Schreiber will play the iconic Master Chief role. Natascha McElhone will play Cortana, the most advanced AI in human history. The AI may be the key to the survival of the human race in this war with alien invaders.
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Shabana Azmi to Play a Major Role
Other key roles include Shabana Azmi as Admiral Margaret Parangosky, the head of the Office of Naval Intelligence.
For Shabana Azmi the win is not around working with Steven Spielberg but rather the colored and diverse cast.
“It can’t get bigger than this! Asian actors have been fighting for color-blind casting for years. Finally, it’s become a reality! This is completely new territory for me. I’m both excited and nervous which is a good place to be in.”
In the Halo video game’s storyline, Commander-in-Chief ONI (CINCONI) Margaret Parangosky was not a woman of color. But her protégé Serin Osman is. Serin Osman is an enhanced human even though the physical augmentation program she was in was considered a failure. She later goes on to take over CINCONI.
We don’t know about you, but the inspired casting choices are making us look forward to this series more and more!
via Masala
