In the teaser, Pablo Schreiber’s un-helmeted protagonist, Master Chief, says that the truth about what happened to his parents “could bring us all down.” Dr. Halsey replies, “That’s what Cortana’s for,” and we then see Cortana’s blue holographic self, but only from the back, as she looms behind Master Chief and he gazes out the window. It’s definitely a coy way to reveal the entrance of Cortana into the live-action “Halo” world.

The first season of “Halo” will have nine episodes total, so it will already be a third of the way through its run after episode 3. Yet the series has already been renewed for a second season, which is set to begin filming this summer, so there are plenty more space adventures yet to come, and now Cortana will be a part of those adventures. 

Here’s the synopsis for “Halo:”

Dramatizing an epic 26th-century conflict between humanity and an alien threat known as the Covenant, Halo the series will weave deeply drawn personal stories with action, adventure and a richly imagined vision of the future. Nobody can save humanity alone-not even the Master Chief. Meet the heroes who will risk losing everything to come together and protect humankind from the universe’s greatest threat.

The third episode of “Halo” hits Paramount+ on Thursday, April 7, 2022.