Following the success of recent video game adaptations like A Minecraft Movie and The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Sony/Columbia Pictures is prepping the popular PlayStation game Horizon Zero Dawn to be another potential box office hit. Things are progressing on that front, as a handful of key updates regarding the movie’s development have been shared.

Sony has confirmed that the Horizon Zero Dawn script is finished and that they are planning to begin production on the film in 2026, with an eye toward releasing the movie in 2027. The news came from a court filing in a lawsuit that Sony has against Tencent Games over their video game Light of Motiram, in which Sony claims Light of Motiram is a “slavish clone” to Horizon.

In the filing, which was officially made on October 16, head of PlayStation Productions Asad Qizibash said about the Horizon Zero Dawn movie, “We already have a working script and are actively searching for a director, with the goal of shooting the picture in 2026 and releasing it in 2027.”

A TV adaptation of Horizon Zero Dawn was announced in 2022. However, at Sony’s CES 2025 conference in January, it was announced that a film adaptation was now the plan, with Columbia Pictures backing the project. Columbia previously adapted PlayStation’s Uncharted and Gran Turismo into feature films.

Originally released in 2017, Horizon Zero Dawn is set in a future where massive machines roam and rule the Earth, while small pockets of humanity survive among the ruins of their lost civilization. The main character is Aloy, a young machine hunter who goes on a journey to discover her origins, the truth of the mysterious world, and her own destiny. A remastered version of Horizon Zero Dawn was released in 2024.

While a search for a director is on, no candidates have been announced. Nor is there any casting news on who may play Aloy or any other character in the film.

For years video games being adapted into movies often failed in Hollywood. More recently, they have proven to be a boon. A Minecraft Movie is one of the highest grossing movies of 2025. In 2023, The Super Mario Bros. Movie made $1.3 billion worldwide. While not having the same level of success, Uncharted starring Tom Holland made $407 million at the worldwide box office.

Horizon Zero Dawn joins a number of announced video game adaptations, which includes A Minecraft Movie 2, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, and Mortal Kombat II. Should it hit its 2027 release target, it will also join a slate of 15 blockbusters that look to make 2027 one of the biggest years ever at cinemas.

Systems

PC-1

Released: February 28, 2017
ESRB: T for Teen – Blood, Drug Reference, Language, Mild Sexual Themes, Violence
Developer(s): Guerrilla Games
Publisher(s): Sony
Engine: Decima
Franchise: Horizon Zero Dawn
Steam Deck Compatibility: Verified
PC Release Date: August 7, 2020

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