In 2022, Sony announced plans to bring the popular sci-fi RPG series Horizon to TV with the help of showrunners Steve Blackman and Michelle Lovretta. However, Netflix has recently decided to cancel the show for reasons that are not yet fully known. This decision may be related to allegations of abuse and misconduct against Blackman, which were detailed in a report by Rolling Stone. These allegations include manipulative behavior, crass jokes, and taking credit for work that wasn’t his.
The cancellation of the Horizon show, along with Blackman’s other project Orbital, has led to the termination of a $50 million development deal that Netflix had given him in 2020. While writing was reportedly underway for both Horizon and Prime Video’s God of War series, it seems that the Horizon show is no longer moving forward. According to journalist Jeff Grubb, the show’s scripts were rumored to be considered “bad” by those funding the project, which may have contributed to its cancellation.
Losing Horizon is a significant setback for Sony, which has been aiming to expand its PlayStation franchises into transmedia properties. Despite this setback, the Horizon series still has more games in development, including a Lego spinoff, a co-op game, and an MMO. However, the cancellation of the TV show has certainly impacted Sony’s larger plans for the franchise.
Overall, the cancellation of the Horizon TV show is a disappointing development for fans of the series and for Sony’s ambitions in the transmedia space. It remains to be seen what the future holds for Horizon and how Sony will pivot in the wake of this setback. Stay tuned for more updates on the latest in entertainment news.
