Image: Guerrilla Games
Netflix’s Horizon Zero Dawn adaptation is “no longer moving forward.”
Netflix has reportedly cancelled its Horizon Zero Dawn TV adaptation, following a Rolling Stone report that detailed allegations against its showrunner Steve Blackman. Former colleagues working with Blackman on Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy claimed that he exhibited, “bullying, manipulative and retaliatory behaviour,” during his tenure on the series.
Seemingly in response to these allegations, Rolling Stone now reports that Netflix has quietly cancelled two TV shows Blackman was planned to develop:
Horizon Zero Dawn TV series reportedly cancelled at Netflix
Netflix’s planned Horizon Zero Dawn TV adaptation is reportedly, “no longer moving forward.” This follows the release of a Rolling Stone report that went into extensive detail on allegations from 12 former colleagues of showrunner Steve Blackman, claiming that he fostered, “a hostile workplace,” while working on The Umbrella Academy. At the time of the report’s release, Blackman responded that the allegations were, “entirely untrue,” and, “completely absurd.”
An investigation into an official complaint against Blackman was carried out by Universal Content Productions (UCP) last year, but it reportedly, “largely cleared Blackman of their accusations,” though the publication notes that it might have been, “less than comprehensive,” as a majority of people named in the complaint were apparently never contacted.
Despite the 2023 complaint, Blackman continued to serve as showrunner for The Umbrella Academy’s fourth and final season at Netflix, which wrapped filming last year and is planned for release on August 8, 2024. Netflix was on good enough terms with the showrunner to set two more TV series with his involvement: the Horizon Zero Dawn TV adaptation, and an original project called Orbital.
Now, it appears both projects have been cancelled in the wake of Rolling Stone’s report. Sony Interactive Entertainment confirmed that writing was already underway on the Horizon series during CES 2024, so it is possible that the project gets shopped elsewhere to complete production. PlayStation Productions has multiple game adaptations in the works, Horizon’s cancellation notwithstanding.
The company has already set a God of War TV adaptation at Amazon Prime Video with the creators of The Expanse and The Wheel of Time on its creative team. HBO’s The Last of Us is currently shooting its second season, with many more planned for the series’ full run. Days Gone, Ghost of Tsushima, Gravity Rush and Until Dawn, adaptations are also in development, along with an Uncharted sequel.
