The Reason Netflix Had to Abandon a Show on Overwatch is Making Fans Turn on Blizzard

In a parallel universe, Overwatch fans might be watching an epic animated series on Netflix. Blizzard Entertainment once had grand plans to expand its franchises like Overwatch, Diablo, and Warcraft into shows.

They could’ve been adaptations that rival the success of The Witcher series, featuring Henry Cavill. But according to a new report, these dreams were abruptly shattered due to legal disputes between Activision Blizzard and Netflix. Now fans can only wonder what could’ve been.

Blizzard Could’ve Given Us One of The Best Things Ever

According to Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, Blizzard had plans to adapt Overwatch, Diablo, and Warcraft into multiple series for Netflix, with rumors about a potential Diablo anime circulating as early as 2020. However, these shows never saw the light of day.

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Schreier revealed in a Reddit AMA that the primary reason for the cancellation stemmed from a lawsuit the studio filed against Netflix for “poaching” one of its top executives, Spencer Neumann. The legal scuffle halted any hope of the studio’s game-based series being developed by the streaming giant.

The lawsuit, filed in December 2020, accused Netflix of violating Californian employment law by hiring Neumann while he was still under contract with Activision Blizzard. This legal battle reportedly soured the relationship between the two companies, leading to the collapse of negotiations for the Overwatch series.

What we could’ve had 💔

— Outranked 🪼 (@_Outranked) September 30, 2024

This revelation has been particularly disappointing for fans. A show would have followed in the footsteps of other successful gaming adaptations, like Arcane and The Witcher. Fans have compared this to the latter, especially Since Henry Cavill’s departure from the series was similarly disappointing.

WE LOST SO UNBELIEVABLY HARD

— harv (@harvv) September 29, 2024

Both games have passionate fan bases and storylines ripe for television adaptation. When Netflix announced The Witcher with Henry Cavill as Geralt, fans were thrilled to see a beloved video game and book series brought to life.

Video Game Adaptations Are a Hit or Miss, But There’s Been Some Good Ones Lately

The news of this cancellation also shows the studio’s wider struggles in expanding its intellectual properties (IPs) beyond video games. While the 2016 Warcraft film was a box-office disappointment, the studio has largely refrained from pursuing ambitious multimedia projects.

Fumble of the decade

— Dabi (@ApexDabi) September 30, 2024

For a company with such beloved IPs, it seems odd that the studio has not capitalized more aggressively on other entertainment formats, like movies or television.

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Fans are noting the company’s reluctance to take risks, with one Redditor saying that the studio is “riddled with bad luck and wasted opportunities.”

What frustrates fans the most is the lost potential. The studio’s games are narrative-rich universes that could thrive in television format. The Diablo series, for instance, was reportedly set to be an anime-style adaptation, which would have offered a fresh take on the dark, gothic world of the game.

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Meanwhile, the Overwatch series could have expanded on the already rich backstory of its characters, offering more depth and engagement than the game’s cinematics allow. These adaptations would have introduced these worlds to new audiences, broadening the appeal of these franchises.

The missed opportunity with the potential series has only intensified the growing disconnect between the company and its fanbase. Many fans have already voiced their discontent with the company over other recent controversies, such as the troubled launch of Overwatch 2 and the mishandling of Warcraft 3: Reforged.

Would you have wanted to see an Overwatch show? Let us know in the comments!