Explaining the Cortana Controversy from Paramount Plus' Halo Series

gamerant.com:

Paramount Plus recently premiered the first full trailer for its live-action Halo series. The series has shown promise with special effects and iconography comparable to the beloved Halo franchise of which it is adapted, such as the instantly discernible silhouette of the green-clad Spartan, Master Chief. It is clear from Paramount Plus' Halo trailer that fans of the games should anticipate a lot of similarities between them and the series, but a lot has also changed that may be difficult for players to initially wrap their heads around.

Many fans are pleased with how the trailer looks aesthetically and how it honors Halo's science-fiction FPS atmosphere. However, there is one aspect of the trailer that has caught fans by surprise and seems a bit off to them in terms of its adaptation. In particular, fans have collectively agreed that Paramount Plus' Cortana looks mildly different from her Bungie and 343 Industries counterparts, which has created its biggest controversy thus far.

Halo Fan 'Fixes' Cortana from the TV Show

Halo's franchise is over two decades old and with such a legacy of iconic characters and their portrayals, fans were quick to note the differences between the live-action and video game versions. Cortana, an artificial intelligence that can be inserted into Master Chief’s iconic Mjolnir helmet, is not a physical individual. Instead, she is intended to resemble a human being, though she is always materialized as a semi-transparent holographic image bathed in purple or blue light.

However, there is a fundamental part of Cortana's character adapted to the series that may be a balm for fans. Paramount Plus' Cortana, as seen and heard in the trailer, is played by the character's authentic voice actress, Jen