'Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn' will explore human relationships rarely seen in the games

Microsoft's upcoming Halo web series, Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn will combine military action with the human drama that is rarely seen in the games, says actor Tom Green, who plays the lead role in the web series.

Microsoft's upcoming Halo web series, Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn will combine military action with the human drama that is rarely seen in the games, says actor Tom Green, who plays the lead role in the web series.

The Australian actor plays Thomas Lasky, a cadet who is training at an academy to become an elite soldier. The web series focuses on Lasky and his peers' difficulties with fitting in at the academy, accepting the curriculum, and dealing with the clash between what he is learning and what he believes.

Green says that because his character has never appeared in previous Halo games or books, he had to look to his own experience in high school to prepare for the role.

"It was a bit hard because I didn't get to refer to any material – games or books – because my character hasn't been introduced at all," he told Polygon in a phone interview. "So I went into it thinking about myself in high school because it wasn't too long ago that I was in high school, and every teenager growing up has a time when they start to think about what they want to do for the rest of their lives and what their whole belief system will be. I tried to remember all those thoughts and used a lot of memories from high school to help get into character."

"The Halo games are known for not having a complex storyline with characters who have these relationships with other humans."

The cast also had to endure a week of military training to prepare for the web series. Te cast had to learn gun commands, the proper way of walking and running, how to hold a weapon, how to do drills, how to direct people, and then how to incorporate all the physically demanding tasks with expressing the emotions of the characters in certain scenes.

Green says that the web series will be very action oriented like the games, but unlike the games, there will also be a focus on human stories and relationships.

"I think at first it might be hard for a lot of fans because they're used to seeing this big green hulk of a machine with a weapon, so at first they might find it hard to be sucked into the series," he says.

"Hopefully people don't turn away because there is this level of drama in it. The Halo games are known for not having a complex storyline with characters who have these relationships with other humans. We don't get to see faces because they're all covered with helmets. This is a bit different – it might be a bit confronting at first – but hopefully people will settle into it."

Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn will air on October 5 this year on Machinima. Halo 4 will receive a worldwide release November 6.