Following the trend of successful video game movies like A Minecraft Movie and The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Sony/Columbia Pictures is gearing up to transform the acclaimed PlayStation game Horizon Zero Dawn into a potential blockbuster. Recent developments indicate that the project is moving forward, with several significant updates on the movie’s progress now available.
Sony has announced that the Horizon Zero Dawn screenplay is complete and that production is slated to start in 2026, aiming for a 2027 release. This update emerged from a legal document in a lawsuit Sony has filed against Tencent Games concerning their game Light of Motiram, which Sony alleges is a blatant copy of Horizon.
In the legal document filed on October 16, Asad Qizibash, the head of PlayStation Productions, stated regarding the Horizon Zero Dawn movie, “We have a finalized script and are currently seeking a director, with plans to begin filming in 2026 and to release the movie in 2027.”
A television series based on Horizon Zero Dawn was initially announced in 2022. However, during Sony’s CES 2025 conference in January, it was revealed that the focus had shifted to a cinematic adaptation, with Columbia Pictures supporting the venture. Columbia has previously turned PlayStation’s Uncharted and Gran Turismo into movies.
First released in 2017, Horizon Zero Dawn is set in a post-apocalyptic world dominated by enormous mechanical creatures, with remnants of humanity clinging to existence amidst the remnants of their former world. The protagonist, Aloy, is a young hunter of these machines, embarking on a quest to unearth her past, unravel the secrets of the world, and shape her destiny. A remastered version of Horizon Zero Dawn was launched in 2024.
While the search for a director continues, no potential candidates have been disclosed. There is also no news yet on casting for Aloy or any other roles in the movie.
Historically, video games adapted into movies often struggled in Hollywood. Recently, however, they have become increasingly successful. A Minecraft Movie became one of the highest-grossing films of 2025, while The Super Mario Bros. Movie earned $1.3 billion globally in 2023. Although not as successful, Uncharted featuring Tom Holland garnered $407 million worldwide.
Horizon Zero Dawn is part of a growing list of video game adaptations, which includes A Minecraft Movie 2, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, and Mortal Kombat II. If it meets its 2027 release goal, it will join a lineup of 15 major films expected to make 2027 one of the biggest years in cinema history.
Ava Thornton is an entertainment journalist with a keen eye for the latest in Hollywood, indie films, and streaming trends.
Her work blends insider knowledge with a deep appreciation for storytelling.
