Netflix's Gears of War Film Progresses, Marcus Fenix's Actor Still Unknown

David Leitch, the acclaimed director behind films like The Fall Guy, Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2, Hobbs & Shaw, and Bullet Train, is reportedly in negotiations to helm Netflix's adaptation of the popular video game Gears of War. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Leitch, along with Kelly McCormick, will produce the film in collaboration with The Coalition, the game's developer. The script is being penned by Jon Spaihts, known for his work on Dune.

It's been over two years since Netflix acquired the rights to Gears of War, and it appears that the project is finally gaining momentum. Alongside the movie, an adult animation series is also in development, set to expand the Gears of War universe further. If these adaptations prove successful, more projects could follow.

A key question on fans' minds is who will portray the iconic protagonist, Marcus Fenix. Dave Bautista, a former wrestler turned actor, has expressed a strong desire to take on the role and has received endorsement from Gears of War co-creator Cliff Bleszinski.

The video game adaptation industry is currently thriving, with hits like The Super Mario Bros. Movie, A Minecraft Movie, and the Sonic series setting new benchmarks. Other notable adaptations include Uncharted, Mortal Kombat, and various Resident Evil films.

Upcoming New Video Game Movies and TV Shows: 2025 Release Dates and Beyond

View 50 ImagesIn a recent statement, Microsoft gaming chief Phil Spencer emphasized that the company remains committed to adapting its video games into other media, despite the mixed reception of the Halo TV series. Spencer highlighted that Microsoft is learning from each project, including Halo and Fallout, and is gaining confidence in the process.

"We’re learning and growing through this process, which is giving us more confidence that we should do more,” Spencer stated.

He added, "We learned from doing Halo. We learned from doing Fallout. So all of these build on themselves. And obviously we’ll have a couple that miss. But what I’d say to the Xbox community that likes this work is, ‘You’re going to see more, because we’re gaining confidence and we’re learning through this.’"

Meanwhile, in the gaming world, The Coalition is developing Gears of War: E-Day, a prequel to the original series, though a release date has yet to be announced.