What Happened To Netflix’s Horizon Zero Dawn Series?

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What Happened To Netflix's Horizon Zero Dawn Series?

Key Takeaways

  • Guerrilla Games’ Horizon Zero Dawn had a TV show in development at Netflix.
  • Development for the Horizon TV series was shelved in July 2024 without a clear reason given.
  • There has been no movement on Netflix’s Horizon Zero Dawn adaptation, but it may have potential in other mediums.

As a dedicated fan of Guerrilla Games and Horizon Zero Dawn since its release in 2017, I must say that the news about the shelved Netflix adaptation has left me feeling like a robot without power – utterly deflated. The idea of witnessing the stunning world of post-apocalyptic Earth overrun by animal-like machines unfold on TV screens was an exciting prospect that had me eagerly counting down the days.

Since its debut in 2017, the Horizon Zero Dawn series by Guerrilla Games has kept progressing, with a variety of developments taking place. The game has seen a sequel, an enhanced version, a VR offshoot, a LEGO adaptation, and at one point, it was also slated for a TV show adaptation.

In the open-world setting of “Horizon Zero Dawn,” players join Aloy on a thrilling journey through a post-apocalyptic Earth dominated by machine creatures resembling animals. As she delves into her past and seeks answers about the world’s demise, Aloy strives to uncover hidden truths. This unique IP from Guerrilla Games captivated audiences with its innovative world design, breathtaking visuals, and emotionally engaging narrative. The successor, “Horizon Forbidden West,” was released in 2022 and continued to garner widespread acclaim.

Horizon Zero Dawn TV Show Was In The Works For Netflix

Hollywood has been captivated by video game adaptations lately, with hits like “Fallout” and “The Last of Us” leading the way. It wasn’t a shock, then, that a studio aimed its gaze at the rich world of “Horizon Zero Dawn”. In 2022, it was disclosed that a Netflix TV series based on “Horizon Zero Dawn” was in pre-production. Not long after this news, it emerged that Steve Blackman, the showrunner of “The Umbrella Academy”, had joined the project as an executive producer and was working alongside Michelle Lovretta (from “Killjoys”) to develop the series.

Back in August 2022, during an interview with Netflix’s Tudum, Blackman shared that he was enthusiastically working on creating a series based on Horizon Zero Dawn. The showrunner complimented Guerrilla’s game and narrative, mentioning that Aloy would be a key character in their storyline. They also expressed their intention to create the series for various audiences. The development of the series was being handled by Blackman’s production company, Irish Cowboy Productions. At one point, there were whispers that the series might unfold across two timeframes, with one set in 2074 before the collapse of humanity and the other in Aloy’s Horizon Zero Dawn timeline.

Why Development On the Horizon Zero Dawn Series Was Shelved

What Happened To Netflix's Horizon Zero Dawn Series?

For a spell, the Horizon Zero Dawn series seemed set to move forward, but unfortunately, it was put on hold instead. In June 2024, Rolling Stone disclosed that a dozen employees had charged Blackman with harassment and inappropriate conduct. Furthermore, an HR complaint claimed that Blackman made offensive comments about gender, sexuality, and transgender individuals. However, Blackman refuted these accusations, stating they were completely false.

Approximately a week later, Cheyenne Roundtree from Rolling Stone shared news that neither Horizon Zero Dawn nor Orbital, Blackman’s other Netflix project, were progressing anymore. Blackman’s representative denied that the allegations against him were behind the cancellation of these projects, instead attributing the halt to the effects of writers’ and actors’ guild strikes. The spokesperson deemed it absurd to connect the project cancellations with the accusations against Blackman.

Will A Horizon Zero Dawn Series Ever Release?

It appears that there has been no further news about Netflix’s Horizon Zero Dawn series since Blackman left the project. The prolonged inactivity is concerning as it might indicate that the adaptation has come to a halt. On the other hand, Amazon Prime Video’s God of War series saw its showrunners depart, but shortly after, a new executive producer was appointed, suggesting their commitment to the project remains strong. Netflix’s silence regarding the Horizon series and failure to bring in any new teams might mean that the project is no longer moving forward on their platform.

It’s possible that Netflix didn’t provide an explanation for the cancellation, but it might have been due to several reasons. One potential factor could have been the substantial costs associated with adapting the Horizon series, given its intricate setting featuring robot dinosaurs and advanced machinery from a post-apocalyptic world. Such elaborate concepts would likely necessitate significant budgets for production and visual effects to meet fan expectations.

Horizon Zero Dawn Might Be Best Suited For Animation

A viable alternative that might alleviate budget constraints and rejuvenate the interest in the Horizon Zero Dawn remake could be to produce it as an animated series. Several video game adaptations, such as Cyberpunk 2077, Tomb Raider, and League of Legends, have achieved success in the animation sphere lately. An animated version would enable a more accurate representation of the original content, and it could even delve into unseen aspects of the game’s world or history that might not be feasible under a live-action budget.

Developing movie adaptations based on popular IPs like video games can take a considerable amount of time before they’re ready to hit the screens. For instance, the movie version of Five Nights at Freddy’s took nearly ten years to materialize and was eventually released in 2023, setting a new record as Blumhouse’s highest-grossing film worldwide. Despite the lengthy development process, fans have eagerly supported these faithful video game adaptations. While a Horizon Zero Dawn TV series may not be in production right now, there’s still hope that it will find success on television in the future.

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2024-11-08 00:05