Netflix had plans to adapt the popular PlayStation game Horizon Zero Dawn into a live-action series, but it looks like that project has been canceled. The series was announced in May 2022 and was set to follow the character Aloy in a post-apocalyptic U.S. filled with robotic creatures.
Steve Blackman, known for his work on The Umbrella Academy, was going to be the showrunner. While there were no details about casting or directors, some executive producers were named. In August 2022, Blackman talked about the project during an interview, mentioning how it was different from his other work and expressing excitement about using new technologies. He confirmed that Aloy would be the main character.
The project’s development slowed down after initially being announced. In June 2024, a Rolling Stone article included allegations of toxic behavior against Blackman, based on several sources. Blackman denied these accusations, but the article stated that the Horizon Zero Dawn series and another project by Blackman for Netflix would no longer be moving forward. Netflix chose not to comment at that time.
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In January 2025, more signs of the series being canceled appeared. During a presentation by Sony, it was announced that a movie based on Horizon Zero Dawn is being produced by PlayStation Productions and Columbia Pictures. This movie will focus on Aloy’s origin story, showing a move away from the Netflix series that was previously in the works. This announcement strongly hints that Netflix has given up on its plans for a Horizon Zero Dawn series.
The cancellation of the Netflix series happened for several reasons. First, the project was still in early development, which made it susceptible to changes. Second, allegations against the showrunner, Blackman, even though he denied them, likely influenced Netflix’s decision. Lastly, Sony announced they would be making a film adaptation, which suggests they are shifting their approach to the Horizon franchise. Although Netflix is still interested in making video game adaptations, the Horizon Zero Dawn series never moved past the announcement stage. Overall, the cancellation is mainly due to the controversy surrounding the showrunner and Sony’s choice to focus on a film instead.
Source: WON
