Sony plans to film Horizon movie in 2026 for 2027 release

Sony has confirmed its live-action Horizon Zero Dawn movie adaptation already has a working script and is actively searching for a director, with plans to begin filming in 2026 for a 2027 theatrical releasepushsquare.
PlayStation Productions head Asad Qizilbash disclosed the production timeline in a sworn declaration filed October 16 as part of Sony’s ongoing lawsuit against Tencent over alleged copyright infringement related to the game Light of Motirampushsquare.
The film is being developed in partnership with Columbia Pictures, the same studio behind Sony’s successful Uncharted and Gran Turismo adaptationspushsquare.
The movie represents a pivot from Sony’s original 2022 plan for a Netflix television series, which was canceled in 2024 following workplace misconduct allegations against showrunner Steve Blackmanpushsquare.
The 2027 release places the Horizon movie in a crowded field of video game adaptations, alongside Sony’s other projects including Helldivers 2, Ghost of Tsushima, Days Gone, and God of War adaptationsgamespot.

Sony Horizon Movie Gets 2026 Filming Start with 2027 Release Target

Sony has confirmed its live-action Horizon Zero Dawn movie adaptation already has a working script and is actively searching for a director, with plans to begin filming in 2026 for a 2027 theatrical release. The revelation emerged from court documents filed Wednesday as part of Sony’s ongoing lawsuit against Tencent over alleged copyright infringement.pushsquare

PlayStation Productions head Asad Qizilbash disclosed the production timeline in a sworn declaration, stating the film is being developed in partnership with Columbia Pictures, the same studio behind Sony’s successful Uncharted and Gran Turismo adaptations. “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,” Qizilbash said in the October 16 filing.gamingbolt

From Netflix Series to Feature Film

The movie represents a significant pivot for the Horizon franchise adaptation. Sony originally planned a Netflix television series in 2022 with The Umbrella Academy showrunner Steve Blackman attached to lead the project. However, the series was quietly canceled in July 2024 following workplace misconduct allegations against Blackman by twelve former colleagues, which he has denied.lavegagames

The movie was officially announced at Sony’s CES 2025 presentation in January, where Qizilbash teased “Aloy’s beloved origin story set in a vibrant, far future world filled with the giant machines, brought to you for the first time on the big screen”.ign

Competitive 2027 Video Game Movie Landscape

The 2027 release target places the Horizon movie in an increasingly crowded field of video game adaptations. The year is expected to feature Sonic the Hedgehog 4, Nintendo’s live-action The Legend of Zelda film, and a sequel to the Minecraft Movie. Sony is also developing multiple other PlayStation properties, including a Helldivers 2 feature film and Ghost of Tsushima: Legends anime series for Crunchyroll.thegamer

The court filing emerged as Sony seeks to demonstrate Aloy’s importance as a “brand symbol” and “key icon” in its legal battle against Tencent over Light of Motiram, which Sony describes as a “slavish clone” of its Horizon franchise. Sony has requested a preliminary injunction hearing for November 20, seeking to block Tencent’s pre-release promotion of the game.thegamepost