‘Halo’s Jen Taylor Explains How Cortana Has Changed for TV

Two episodes in, and Halo still doesn’t feel quite like itself. But that’s all about to change. According to series star Jen Taylor, your favorite AI will be appearing on Paramount+ soon.

“You’re not going to see Cortana till three,” Taylor told Decider.

The end of Halo‘s second episode contains a major Cortana tease. After Dr. Halsey’s (Natascha McElhone) project is approved, the last moments of “Unbound” show a woman waking up. That woman is none other than the flash clone copy of Dr. Halsey’s brain, better known as the copy who will go on to form Cortana.

“She’s a little different than the Cortana we know. She’s in a different part of the story, and she’s in a different part of her journey individually,” Taylor revealed. “So it’s going to be a little different, but it’s also going to be familiar. It’s going to be, hopefully, exciting and different for new fans and old fans alike, but there is going to be some of that comfort for people who are looking for, you know, harkening back to the game.”

The actor revealed that there will be some great battle scenes involving Cortana and Master Chief (Pablo Schreiber) on the horizon. But when we meet Cortana, her relationship with Master Chief will be different than what we’ve come to expect from the self-assured guide and friend recognizable from the games. “We’re at a different place, and we’re sort of figuring out who we are and trying to get comfortable with each other,” Taylor said. “It’s different yet the same, if that makes sense.”

Taylor’s casting is one of the coolest parts of Paramount+’s series. The accomplished voice actor has been voicing Cortana since 2001 when Master Chief’s AI companion was first introduced in Halo: Combat Evolved. She’s voiced the character in every iteration since and has even provided the voice of Microsoft’s intelligent personal assistant of the same name. Basically, you can’t have Halo without Jen Taylor. And this franchise staple is excited for what’s ahead in the series.

“It’s gonna feel good,” Taylor teased. “It’s gonna feel good for you. I can just tell.”

New episodes of Halo premiere on Paramount+ on Thursdays. 

Watch Halo on Paramount+