I’d completely forgotten about this series, since we profiled it last summer, when it was announced that it was in the works, and scheduled to premiere last fall.
Well, it did, and we didn’t share the series here as I’d planned to. Although I have to wonder if it was well-watched, because I don’t recall coming across any write-ups about it, whether mentions that it was available to watch, or reviews from TV critics. Maybe I just missed them.
All that said, here it is, for those who were interested in checking it out, and didn’t.
First, recapping…
The competition for eyeballs is becoming even more intense, with video game console makers like Sony PlayStation and Microsoft Xbox, getting into the original scripted series game. What’s even more noteworthy is that series announced by both platforms thus far, feature black leads.
Yesterday, Sony’s superhero-themed cop drama "Powers" (co-starring Susan Herward) debuted – a 10-episode season available to subscribers of its PlayStation Network; although episode 1 was made available online for FREE; watch it here). It’s a live-action series based on the comic book franchise of the same name, created by Brian Michael Bendis, whose credits include Marvel’s "Avengers, X-Men," & "Ultimate Spider-Man" and Michael Avon Oeming.
The series takes place in a world in which having superpowers is common; Heyward plays one-half of a detective pair who investigate crimes involving people with superpowers.
But months before Sony premiered "Powers" yesterday, Microsoft released all 5 episodes of its Xbox Originals series, "Halo: Nightfall," which is a live-action adaptation based on the gaming consoles popular "Halo" video game franchise.
The series hails from Ridley Scott’s Scott Free Productions in conjunction with 343 Industries, and was directed by television director Sergio Mimica-Gezzan.
Reportedly budgeted at $10 million, "Halo: Nightfall" follows Jameson Locke, a rising star in a futuristic army, with reservations about those in command, and the team he leads who are caught in a horrific biological attack that exposes them to a much deeper danger, while investigating terrorist activity on the distant colony world of Sedra.
Mike Colter stars in the series, playing the lead, Jameson Locke, in a project that he called an origin story for his character. He’s joined by Christina Chong, Luke Neal and Steve Waddington in supporting roles.
The series debuted last November, on Xbox Live (also a subscription service).
Colter will next been seen in this summer’s Netflix/Marvel "AKA Jessica Jones" superhero series, playing Luke Cage.
While you wait, watch all 5 episodes of "Halo: Nightfall" below. Each episode is about 30 minutes long, for a total of close to 150 minutes of viewing. I haven’t had the time to check it out yet, but I will eventually:
