Horizon Zero Dawn TV series adaptation reportedly cancelled at Netflix

A TV series based on Guerrilla Games’ Horizon Zero Dawn has reportedly been shelved at Netflix, according to a Rolling Stone report. The report alleges that showrunner Steve Blackman had fostered a hostile workplace during the show’s pre-production, and that Netflix has cancelled both the Horizon show and an unrelated TV series to which Blackman was attached.

As per the report, Horizon TV series showrunner Steve Blackman has been accused of having a “long history of toxic, bullying, manipulative, and retaliatory behaviour”. The HR complaint filed in January 2023 to Universal Content Productions (the NBC-owned production company which also produces Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy, another show of which Blackman is showrunner) describes Blackman of “creating an environment of fear and distrust” and allegedly making lewd remarks that sources say they found to be sexist, homophobic, and transphobic. Blackman has responded to the article and stated that the allegations are “entirely untrue” and “completely absurd”.

In an update to the Rolling Stone report, author Cheyenne Roundtree reported via a post on social media that Netflix is shelving two shows to which Blackman is attached. These are the Horizon series, as well as an original sci-fi project called Orbital. He is still serving as showrunner for The Umbrella Academy, which will see its final season release on Netflix on the 8th of August 2024.

Scoop: Rolling Stone has learned that two of 'Umbrella Academy' showrunner Steve Blackman’s projects that were in development at Netflix, a Horizon Zero Dawn series and an original series, Orbital, are no longer moving forward https://t.co/cFnyww0n3Q

— Cheyenne Roundtree (@cheyenne_round) July 3, 2024

The Horizon Zero Dawn TV series was announced back in 2022 when The Umbrella Academy’s third season had released. Netflix and Sony have not yet confirmed whether or not the show has been cancelled, so we will have to await a formal announcement. In the meantime, Sony has plenty of adaptations of its games in the works, including a second season of The Last of Us on HBO and a God of War adaptation in the works at Amazon Prime Video.