Start of filming and release date for the Horizon Zero Dawn film

The production of the "Horizon Zero Dawn" film adaptation is making progress! As The Game Post reports, filming is set to begin in 2026 – with a planned cinema release in 2027.

According to new documents relating to a legal dispute between Sony and Tencent, there is even said to already be a finished script. The search for a suitable director is also in full swing. The live-action film follows the recent collaborations between Columbia Pictures and PlayStation Productions for the films "Uncharted" and "Gran Turismo" from 2023.

According to Asad Qizilbash, Head of PlayStation Productions, Aloy – the main character from "Horizon Zero Dawn" and "Horizon Forbidden West" – will also play the central role in the film. However, it remains to be seen who will take on the role of the popular huntress.

Sony had originally announced a "Horizon" series for Netflix in 2022. However, the project was halted following accusations against the showrunner at the time, Steve Blackman. At the beginning of this year, Sony finally confirmed that it was working on a live-action film instead. We can also look forward to a "Ghost of Tsushima" film and a "God of War" series, among other things.

Can "Horizon Zero Dawn" work as a movie?

With the confirmation that Sony is working on a live-action adaptation of "Horizon Zero Dawn", a question that has been on fans' minds has taken center stage: Can the post-apocalyptic world centered around the huntress Aloy work on the big screen? Video game adaptations have a checkered history –between successful adaptations such as "The Last of Us" and rather disappointing adaptations such as "Assassin's Creed". But the chances for "Horizon Zero Dawn" are surprisingly good if Sony makes the right decisions.

A world made for the big screen

One of the biggest advantages of "Horizon Zero Dawn" lies in its breathtaking world. Released exclusively for the PlayStation 4 in 2017, the game transports players to a distant future where humanity lives in tribes after a technological collapse - surrounded by massive, animal-like machine creatures. This mixture of nature and technology, of prehistoric times and the future, offers enormous visual potential.

For the big screen, this means spectacular landscapes, imposing machine battles and a fascinating atmosphere somewhere between "Avatar", "Mad Max" and "Jurassic Park". Especially in times when visual worlds have become a key selling point for blockbusters, "Horizon" could be a feast for the eyes – provided the production budget allows for a high-quality realization of the complex machines and the expansive game world.

Aloy as a strong main character

Another of the movie's trump cards is its protagonist. Aloy is not a stereotypical heroine, but a multi-layered character: curious, skeptical, courageous – and driven by the desire to understand her origins. She is caught between two worlds: the mythical culture of her tribal society and the technological secrets of a past civilization. This duality makes her one of the most interesting characters in modern gaming.

For the film adaptation, however, there is a crucial question: who can credibly embody Aloy? Her actress must not only be physically convincing, but also show emotional depth. An unsuitable cast – as has weakened many video game adaptations in the past – could damage the project. Conversely, a strong acting performance could turn Aloy into a new icon of science fiction cinema, similar to Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley or Charlize Theron as Furiosa.

The challenge of adaptation

The biggest danger with video game adaptations lies in finding the balance between fan service and cinematic independence. "Horizon Zero Dawn" tells a widely ramified story with dozens of secondary characters, factions and background information. This complexity can hardly be squeezed into two hours of film without losing central elements.

A clever focus could help here: Instead of retelling the entire game plot, the movie should concentrate on Aloy's personal journey – her conflict with the world, her search for identity and her relationship with technology. The impressive battles against machine creatures should complement the story, not dominate it. If the emotional level is right, the movie can also convince non-gamers.

Learning potential from other PlayStation films

In recent years, Sony has set up its own film division, PlayStation Productions, to bring its brands to the cinema. There was light and shade: "Uncharted" (2022) was a solid adventure film, but lacked the charm of the original. "Gran Turismo (2023), on the other hand, surprised with a true story that cleverly combined gaming and motorsport.

With "The Last of Us", Sony – in collaboration with HBO – proved that video game stories can work excellently in cinematic form if the emotional core of the original is respected. This production could serve as a guide: Characters and relationships first, action after. If "Horizon" follows this path and doesn't try to be a pure effects spectacle, the chances of a successful realization are good.

A changing audience

What's more, audiences have changed considerably in recent years. Video game adaptations are no longer a niche phenomenon. Millions of people are already familiar with Aloy and her world, and many more are open to high-quality science fiction adventures with female protagonists. Series such as "Dune", "The Witcher" or "Avatar" have shown that epic worlds with ecological and philosophical undertones are of great interest to audiences.

"Horizon Zero Dawn" picks up on similar themes – the conflict between man and machine, the value of knowledge and dealing with nature and technology. This could also make the film relevant beyond the gaming audience.

Conclusion: great opportunities, but not a sure-fire success

Whether "Horizon Zero Dawn" works as a movie ultimately depends on whether Sony understands what is at the heart of the brand: not just spectacular machines, but humanity in a broken world. If the script, direction and cast can find this balance, "Horizon" could become one of the best video game adaptations of its time – a visually impressive, emotionally moving science fiction adventure.

However, if the project fails due to excessive hunger for effects or a superficial plot, it risks joining the ranks of those adaptations that are beautiful to look at but lose their soul. The world of Aloy deserves more – and perhaps, if all goes well, that's exactly what it will get.