Editing Halo: Nightfall

{{Status|RealWorld}}

{{Film infobox

'''''Halo: Nightfall'''''<ref name="E3">'''E3 2014 Microsoft Media Briefing'''</ref> is a live-action ''Xbox Originals'' webseries for the [[Xbox One]], [[Xbox 360]], and other [[Microsoft]] devices which was released in late [[2014]].<ref name="Xbox.com">[http://news.xbox.com/2014/04/ent-xbox-originals-unveil '''Xbox.com''': ''Xbox Originals: Coming Soon to a Screen Near You'']</ref> Consisting of five episodes,<ref name="amazon">[http://www.amazon.com/Halo-Master-Chief-Collection-Xbox-One/dp/B00KSQHX1K/ref=zg_bs_videogames_1 '''Amazon''': ''Halo: The Master Chief Collection'']</ref> the series was created by [[Wikipedia:Scott Free Productions|Scott Free Productions]] in conjunction with [[343 Industries]]. Acclaimed filmmaker [[Wikipedia:Ridley Scott|Ridley Scott]] was the show's executive producer along with Scott Free TV President [[Wikipedia:David W. Zucker|David Zucker]]; it was directed by television director [[Wikipedia:Sergio Mimica-Gezzan|Sergio Mimica-Gezzan]].{{Ref/Reuse|Xbox.com}} In the series, ''"A strange and treacherous world exposes elite UNSC operatives to a much deeper danger."'' The five episodes of ''Nightfall'' aired on the [[Halo Channel]] weekly, on Tuesdays at 4 PM PST, starting on [[2014|November 11, 2014]] and concluding on December 9, 2014.<ref name="waypoint">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/halo-nightfall '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Halo: Nightfall description'']</ref>

Serving as an origin story for [[Jameson Locke|Agent Locke]], a secondary playable character in ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'',<ref name="SDCC panel">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaZOLp6pYCE '''YouTube''': ''Halo: Nightfall Panel - SDCC 2014'']</ref> ''Nightfall'' is intended to connect the stories of ''[[Halo 4]]'' and ''Guardians''.<ref name="xbox wire SDCC">[http://news.xbox.com/2014/07/ent-halo-nightfall-sdcc-announcement '''Xbox Wire''': ''SDCC 14: 343 Industries and Scott Free Productions Offer First-Look of Halo: Nightfall'']</ref><ref>[http://venturebeat.com/2014/06/09/microsoft-bets-big-that-multibillion-dollar-game-series-halo-will-thrive-on-television/ '''Venturebeat''': ''Microsoft bets big that multibillion-dollar game series Halo will thrive on television'']</ref> An [[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI]] [[Locke's team|unit]] under Locke's command is deployed on the distant [[human]] [[Outer Colony]] of [[Sedra]] to investigate [[terrorism|terrorist]] activity. Sedra is described as a backwater world harboring a disdain for the [[Unified Earth Government]] and the UNSC. During their investigation, a [[City of Sedra|Sedran city]] is attacked by a [[Sangheili]] [[Unidentified Sangheili Zealot (Sedra)|terrorist]] wielding a [[bioweapon|biological weapon]] that only affects humans.<ref name="first look">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iw2oqtZoc8s/ '''YouTube''': ''Halo: Nightfall First Look'']</ref> Locke's team is forced to work together with [[Sedran Colonial Guard]] commander [[Randall Aiken]] and his troops to track down the origin of the bioweapon. During their search, the unit is drawn to [[Alpha Shard|a partially intact section]] of [[Installation 04]], the [[Halo Array|Halo]] ringworld destroyed by the [[John-117|Master Chief]] in the [[Halo: Combat Evolved|first ''Halo'' game]].<ref name="PAX">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGn4YXXZyDo '''YouTube''': ''Halo and the Journey of the Master Chief- PAX Prime 2014'']</ref><ref>[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2014/08/30/pax-offers-more-details-on-halo-nightfall-and-what-to-expect-from-the-halo-channel.aspx '''GameInformer''': ''PAX Offers More Details On Halo: Nightfall And What To Expect From The Halo Channel'']</ref><ref>[http://ca.ign.com/videos/2014/08/30/halo-nightfall-how-the-ring-fits-into-the-story-pax-prime '''IGN''': ''Halo Nightfall - How The Ring Fits into the Story - PAX Prime '']</ref> [[Thanolekgolo|A grave threat]] present on the ancient construct soon turns the mission into a desperate fight for survival.{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint}}<ref name="wgtc">[http://wegotthiscovered.com/tv/halo-nightfall-tense-trailer-rounds-cast/#!bzGqF2 '''We Got This Covered''': ''Halo: Nightfall Gets A Tense First Trailer, Rounds Out Cast'']</ref>

''Nightfall'' was planned to have narrative connections to ''[[Halo: The Television Series]]''.<ref name="gigaom">[http://gigaom.com/2014/04/28/bonnaroo-halo-and-soccer-microsoft-aims-high-with-xbox-originals/ '''Gigaom''': ''Bonnaroo, Halo and soccer: Microsoft aims high with Xbox Originals'']</ref> The series also incorporated interactive features with the [[Halo Channel]] application for Xbox One.{{Ref/Reuse|SDCC panel}} Viewers could complete challenges related to the series to unlock features that can be used in ''Halo'' games. Each episode had several challenges and "Second Story" videos that expand on events that were not shown in the series. Additionally, viewers could access the Halo Channel's "Halo Encyclopedia" to gain information on characters, locations, weapons, and vehicles that are featured in ''Halo: Nightfall''.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-gb/halo-channel '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Halo Channel'']</ref>

Tracing the tug's positioning reveals that the vessel obtained the element from [[Alpha Shard|a fragment]] of [[Installation 04]] that was thrown through [[slipspace]] during the ring's destruction and ended up orbiting perilously close to [[Thotael system|a red giant]]. However, there is no record of the mystery element being previously present on the ring, but Sedran Private [[Talitha Macer]] points out that it may have been newly formed in the [[supernova]]-level temperatures of the ring's explosion. A scan reveals that the element is found nowhere else in the observable universe. After detecting another tug approaching the ring, ONI opts to land there, capture the smugglers to gain proof of the [[Sangheili|Covenant]] breaking their peace treaty with the UNSC, and destroy the deposits of the element with a [[HAVOK]] nuclear warhead. The mission is particularly challenging because of the Halo fragment's close orbit to the red giant and its rapid spin around itself; when it faces the star the shard's habitable side undergoes extreme heat that is unbearable for any human. The fragment's environment only experiences survivable temperatures during the sixteen hours of "night" when the habitable side is facing away from the star, forcing the team to complete their mission within this timeframe. Locke contacts [[Goodwin|Rear Admiral Goodwin]] who approves the mission. After Colonel Aiken's daughter dies of the infection he and a Sedran Colonial Guard team join Locke's ONI unit and head for the Halo shard on a [[Condor]] dropship.

The second chapter opens with the team's Condor in [[slipspace]] on its way to Alpha Shard. During the journey, the ONI agents bicker with the Sedrans while Locke reveals to Private Macer that Colonel Aiken was once a Spartan, Randall-037, showing her a [[data pad]] with Aiken's file which includes an image of him in [[MJOLNIR Mark IV]] armor. The crew arrive at their destination and land on the Halo's surface. Donning their [[Powered exoskeleton|powered]] [[Nightfall armor]], the ONI operators jump out of the Condor at a significant height while the Sedrans, with their less sophisticated combat suits, must rappel down. Macer pilots the dropship while most of the others move to secure an [[Bactrian-class freighter|Alerian tug]] seemingly used by the smugglers. The freighter is empty but is accompanied by a compartment used to store horses, as well as hoof prints leading away from the site. The ONI-Sedran Colonial Guard team move to the tracks' direction and come across two smugglers—[[Arris Le]] and [[Haisal Wari]]—mining the element in a cave. The smugglers attempt to escape but are quickly caught and [[Physical restraints|restrained]] by the ONI agents.  

The group heads back to the Condor for extraction; however, while the dropship is setting down, a large number of [[Thanolekgolo]] appear and begin to swarm all over its airframe, plunging it out of control. Macer is thrown out of the Condor, which then flies off erratically and crashes in the distance. More of the worms appear in large gestalt formations, killing the horses and three of the Sedrans. Fast and agile, the Lekgolo begin to pursue the group who escape to a narrow crevice where Locke uses a special appliance to [[Holography|holographically]] camouflage their position from the aliens, but the aliens quickly notice the camouflage projector and devour it. Arris is able to reveal that the creatures can sense active technology ''and'' movement, prompting the group to shut down the electronics present in their equipment. The Lekgolo examine the group, who avoid detection by remaining completely still. In the end most of the worms leave and the group move out of the crevice. Locke grabs a sole remaining individual Lekgolo and squeezes, killing it.

While Ramos, Horrigan, and Arris attempt to go back to the tug, Arris tries to put Ramos against Horrigan by saying Horrigan is using both of them. Meanwhile, in the Condor, Locke, Aiken, and Macer find some weapons and finds that the Condor, now damaged, doesn't have the capacity to get them out of the ring, but they can go to the tug. Ramos confronts Horrigan but he replies to him that the tug has autopilot but also a biometric scan which is the reason why they needed Arris in the first place. With less than 30 minutes left, Aiken and Locke try to start to detonate the HAVOK nuke, but Macer reveals that there's a problem: the Condor has enough thrusters to fly but its cells are damaged, meaning they cannot get out of the canyon. Aiken then makes a plan: if they use the HAVOK's emergency cell, the Condor will have energy. Aiken orders Macer to put it into the Condor's system, but Locke says that they can't leave the bioweapon source intact. Aiken replies that the only way they can complete the mission is if only two of them go to the tug and the third manually activate the HAVOK. Near the tug, Ramos begins to suffocate, and he and Horrigan begin to use the last air source, but Arris manages to escape with the help of a laser cutter which he uses to cut his binds.

In the Condor, Macer manages to activate the ship and Aiken orders to both of them to go to the tug, but both refuse. Aiken then breaks his daughter's necklace and empties some of the beads in his hand. He then explains that it will be decided by luck: the one who draws a red bead from his enclosed hand will stay behind while those with white ones are spared. In the end, it seems the one who will activate the HAVOK is Aiken. Before they part ways, Locke promises Aiken they will see each other in Valhalla. When Locke and Macer leave in the Condor, Aiken reveals he cheated by hiding his red bead from view; there were no red beads in his hand since he wanted both of them to survive. Almost reaching the tug, both groups are attacked by Lekgolo worms; Horrigan betrays Ramos by activating his backpack, breaking his leg, and leaving him to be killed by the worms. The Condor crashes, Locke helps a crippled Macer and races to the tug. Arris starts the tug and the Lekgolo start going to the tug. Desperate, Horrigan turns on his assault rifle and kills Arris, but on his way to the ship, he is devoured by the worms, and they begin to envelop the tug. With no means to escape, Locke and Macer hide behind a few rocks. With few minutes to the sunrise left, Aiken activates the HAVOK and, unconsciously, draws the Lekgolo out of the tug and towards him. Locke and Macer enter the tug and escape the ring. At the same moment, the HAVOK detonates, killing Aiken, the Lekgolo, and destroys the ring fragment with its deposits along with it.

Locke and Macer watch the ring being destroyed and return to Sedra. While there, Locke walks through the outdoor market in Sedra City while in deep thought. In these sequences, a final monologue from Aiken is heard:

While the series had a $10,000,000 (USD) budget, equal to that of ''[[Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn]]''<nowiki/>'s, 343 Industries considers the newer series' scope to be larger and more ambitious in terms of character development and setting. Producer [[Wikipedia:Ridley Scott|Ridley Scott]] was quick to accept the project when it was first pitched to him as video game tie-in media was still relatively unknown ground to him.{{Ref/Reuse|SDCC}}

The name ''Nightfall'' refers to the circumstances of the main characters' mission aboard the Halo fragment: they are forced to complete their mission in the sixteen hours the fragment's habitable side remains in the "night" side of the star it orbits. The concept of having the main portion of the plot be set on a dying fragment of Alpha Halo came in around halfway to the script's writing process. Director Sergio Mimica-Gezzan wanted the principal setting to act as a "character" in itself that would drive the plot dynamics as well as evolve and change over the course of the story. The idea of having the setting be a fragment of a Halo was initially conceived by [[Jeremy Patenaude]] of 343 Industries' franchise team. The team then further refined the concept by deciding which one of the rings the Halo in question would be and how could its nature and location as given in the ''Nightfall'' story work in the broader fictional context. The franchise team put consideration into the size and shape of the fragment (including a "forensic analysis" of Installation 04's destruction scene in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'') as well as the logistics of moving the fragment into a different system;{{Ref/Reuse|PAX}} the concept of Halos being equipped with an emergency slipspace capability which would place them in a destructive orbit was first introduced in [[Greg Bear]]'s novel ''[[Halo: Primordium]]''.<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 279''</ref>

The first official trailer was released on July 24, 2014, at San Diego Comic-Con, which stated that Locke's team was tracking down reports of an element that specifically targeted humans on the distant colony of Sedra.{{Ref/Reuse|SDCC}}

''Nightfall'' was filmed in Iceland and Ireland.<ref>[https://icelandreview.com/news/2014/04/29/iceland-star-new-ridley-scott-movie '''Iceland on Review''' - ''Iceland to Star in New Ridley Scott Movie'']</ref> Filming in [[Wikipedia:Belfast|Belfast, Northern Ireland]] was reported to have started by early June 2014<ref>[http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/film-tv/news/ridley-scotts-halo-digital-feature-being-shot-in-belfasts-titanic-quarter-30323063.html '''Belfast Telegraph''': ''Ridley Scott's Halo digital feature being shot in Belfast's Titanic Quarter'']</ref> and finished as of June 12, 2014, being subsequently continued in Iceland.<ref name="polygon">[http://www.polygon.com/2014/6/12/5802422/halo-5-spartan-locke-nightfall '''Polygon''': ''Halo 5's secret Spartan is Agent Locke, and his story will be revealed in Halo Nightfall'']</ref> The scenes set on the colony of [[Sedra]] were filmed in Ireland, while Iceland is used to portray the locales of the Halo fragment.{{Ref/Reuse|SDCC panel}} Iceland was considered an ideal filming location for the Halo due to the otherworldly and rugged landscapes present there.{{Ref/Reuse|PAX}}

The cast and crew faced many difficulties due to the challenging weather conditions of Iceland. While the environment is meant to be uncomfortably hot in the series, the actual temperature was often below freezing as Iceland was experiencing the coldest recorded weather in some time in addition to frequent strong winds and rainstorms. To create the illusion of a hot environment, the cast had fake sweat applied on them which would rapidly freeze, becoming highly uncomfortable for the actors. Cast members falling over was also an everyday occurrence. Due to the hardships they faced the cast and crew would play games, place bets on falling on screen or nominate a "chief of morale" among them to keep their spirits high.{{Ref/Reuse|SDCC panel}}

On May 15, 2014, it was announced that actor [[Wikipedia:Mike Colter|Mike Colter]] is set to star in the feature. Colter plays the main character, [[Jameson Locke]],{{Ref/Reuse|polygon}}<ref name="machinima">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crDIiFV-Wmw '''YouTube''': ''Every. Halo. Ever. E3 2014'']</ref> "a rising star in a futuristic army with reservations about those in command". Locke was known tentatively as "Marlowe" during production.<ref>[http://www.thewrap.com/halo-digital-feature-mike-colter-ridley-scott-good-wife/ '''The Wire''': ''Ridley Scott's ‘Halo’ Digital Feature Recruits ‘Good Wife’ Star Mike Colter (Exclusive)'']</ref> On July 10, 2014, it was announced that actress [[Wikipedia:Christina Chong|Christina Chong]] would play the series' female lead: [[Talitha Macer]], a member of the Sedran Colonial Guard.<ref>[http://upandcomers.net/2014/07/09/christina-chong-lands-female-lead-halo-nightfall/ '''Up & Comers''' - ''Christina Chong Lands Female Lead in Digital Feature ‘Halo: Nightfall’'']</ref>{{Ref/Reuse|wgtc}} Many of the roles in the series were rather physically demanding and there was a focus on the actors' fitness and athleticism in the casting process; however, it was noted that some of the cast still had difficulties with these aspects during filming.{{Ref/Reuse|SDCC panel}}

*[[Wikipedia:Mike Colter|Mike Colter]] as ''[[Jameson Locke]]''{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint}}

*[[Wikipedia:Christina Chong|Christina Chong]] as ''[[Talitha Macer]]''{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint}}{{Ref/Reuse|wgtc}}

*[[Wikipedia:Steven Waddington|Steven Waddington]] as ''[[Randall Aiken]]''{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint}}

*{{Plain|[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1739987/ Luke Neal]}} as ''[[Michael Bradley Horrigan]]''{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint}}{{Ref/Reuse|wgtc}}

*{{Plain|[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm6671482/ Alexander Bhat]}} as ''[[Alistair Bov Estrin]]''{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint}}{{Ref/Reuse|wgtc}}

*{{Plain|[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0734926/ Alexis Rodney]}} as ''[[Arris Le]]''{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint}}{{Ref/Reuse|wgtc}}

*{{Plain|[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2757852/ Christian Contreras]}} as ''[[Gregory Aio Ramos]]''{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint}}{{Ref/Reuse|wgtc}}

*{{Plain|[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2256122/ Eric Kofi Abrefa]}} as ''[[Haisal Wari]]''{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint}}{{Ref/Reuse|wgtc}}

*{{Plain|[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4360251/ Jennie Gruner]}} as ''[[Samantha Wisner]]''{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint}}{{Ref/Reuse|wgtc}}

*{{Plain|[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4211410/ Sarah Armstrong]}} as ''[[Jordan Gaines]]''{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint}}{{Ref/Reuse|wgtc}}

*{{Plain|[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4377217/ Shaun Blaney]}} as ''[[Mason Hundley]]''{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint}}{{Ref/Reuse|wgtc}}

The [[D81-LRT Condor|Condor]] transport craft, known tentatively as the "Super [[Pelican]]", was created for the series as a Sedran equivalent to the UNSC's more modern dropships. A life-size set was created to portray the craft. The main characters are wearing [[Nightfall armor|armor]] that has been noted by [[Frank O'Connor]] as having been developed in [[Seongnam]] (the site of the UNSC's [[Special Warfare Center]]) and incorporating elements and technology from [[MJOLNIR]], [[ODST armor|ODST]] and [[Marine BDU|UNSC Marine]] armors.{{Ref/Reuse|SDCC panel}}

The ''Halo: Nightfall First Look'' trailer outlines the premise of the ''Nightfall'' story. It was first shown at San Diego Comic-Con 2014.{{Ref/Reuse|first look}}

Released on October 22, 2014, ''Halo: Nightfall Trailer'' is the official trailer of the series.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qe5iGKfl_ws '''YouTube''': ''Halo: Nightfall Trailer'']</ref> It uses the song ''[[The Liberator]]'' for the background, the only song part of ''Halo: Nightfall''{{'}}s soundtrack to see a release.

*[[Alistair Estrin]]{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint}} {{1st}}

*[[Arris Le]]{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint}} {{1st}}

*[[Gregory Ramos]]{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint}} {{1st}}

*[[Haisal Wari]]{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint}} {{1st}}

*[[Jordan Gaines]]{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint}} {{1st}}

*[[Mason Hundley]]{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint}} {{1st}}

*[[Michael Horrigan]]{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint}} {{1st}}

*[[NOX]] {{1st}}

*[[Randall Aiken]]{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint}}

*[[Samantha Wisner]]{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint}} {{1st}}

*[[Forerunner-Flood war]]

**[[Great Purification]] {{Mo}}

*{{Pattern|Taaku Xur|Spirit}}

*[[Combat harness|Sangheili combat harness]]

{{Ref/Sources|2}}

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20201130105701/https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/halo-channel/shows/halo-nightfall/season-1 ''Halo: Nightfall'' on '''Halo Waypoint''']

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