- Blizzard and Netflix had plans to make shows set in the StarCraft, Overwatch, and Diablo franchises.
- In 2020, Blizzard sued Netflix for poaching their Chief Financial Officer, disrupting any plans for potential adaptations.
Jason Schreier, a journalist and well-known authority in the videogames industry, revealed Netflix canceled shows set in the Diablo, Overwatch, and StarCraft universes.
Why Netflix Cancelled The Shows
While promoting his new book PLAY NICE: The Rise, Fall, and Future of Blizzard Entertainment, Jason mentioned the cancellation was due to Blizzard Entertainment suing Netflix. At the tail end of 2020, Activision Blizzard took Netflix to court for poaching their Chief Financial Officer Spencer Neuman.
Netflix is no stranger to lawsuits, having handled similar cases by Fox and Viacom. Unfortunately, Blizzard’s suit resulted in Netflix canning at least three shows set in popular videogame franchises: StarCraft, Diablo, and Overwatch.
Videogame movies and shows haven’t always been popular but are definitely picking up the pace with Sony’s The Last of Us and Bethesda’s Fallout. Netflix has been home to several videogame adaptations in the past, such as the critically acclaimed Cyberpunk Edgerunners.
Overwatch, Diablo, and StarCraft all have extremely dedicated communities that are distraught because of this news. All three franchises could have massively benefited from the mainstream attention in one way or another.
What Could Have Been
The Diablo series, known for its role-playing elements and intense top-down combat, has a massive fan following. A faithful adaptation could have brought the desolate world of Sanctuary to life. Animation is the way to go for Diablo, or it would have been if not for the lawsuit. The eternal struggle between the High Heavens and Burning Hells would make for some darn good TV.
Overwatch is a hero shooter praised for its competitive gameplay, level of polish, and high-quality animations. The characters are genuinely well-made, each distinct with their own backstories. Fans have been begging Blizzard for an Overwatch show for years. Unfortunately, Blizzard has not delivered, and with the recent distaste for Overwatch 2, it seems the franchise is going nowhere any time soon.
StarCraft, a nostalgic, real-time strategy game with plenty of in-game lore, has everything it needs to make it on the big screen. A series could explore the political tension between the Terrans, Protoss, and Zerg. If executed correctly, an adaptation could have re-engaged long-time fans while introducing new players to the universe. Any success would almost guarantee a new game in the franchise, which fans have wanted for a long time.
