David Leitch, the acclaimed director behind films such as Atomic Blonde (2017), Deadpool 2 (2018), Hobbs & Shaw (2019), and Bullet Train (2022), is currently in discussions to helm Netflix's adaptation of Microsoft's iconic third-person action game, Gears of War. The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed these negotiations, signaling a major step forward for the project.

Leitch is set to produce the film alongside his partner Kelly McCormick and the game's developer, The Coalition. The screenplay is being penned by Jon Spaihts, known for his work on Dune. Since Netflix acquired the rights to Gears of War two-and-a-half years ago, progress has been slow, but it seems the project is now gaining momentum. Alongside the movie, an adult animated series is also in development, with potential for further expansions should the initial adaptations prove successful.

One of the most pressing questions surrounding the adaptation is who will portray the series' protagonist, Marcus Fenix. Dave Bautista, a former wrestler turned actor, has publicly expressed his strong desire to take on the role, even receiving endorsement from Gears co-creator Cliff Bleszinski. This casting choice could bring significant attention to the film.

The landscape of video game adaptations is thriving, with recent successes such as The Super Mario Bros. Movie, the Sonic series, and A Minecraft Movie setting new benchmarks. Other notable adaptations include Uncharted, Mortal Kombat, and multiple Resident Evil films, indicating a robust market for these types of projects.

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Phil Spencer, Microsoft's gaming chief, has expressed that despite the challenges faced with the Halo TV series, the company remains committed to exploring more adaptations. Spencer highlighted the learning curve from projects like Halo and Fallout, suggesting that these experiences are building confidence within Microsoft to pursue further adaptations.

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

In the gaming world, The Coalition is currently developing Gears of War: E-Day, a prequel to the original series. While no release date has been announced, anticipation for this new installment continues to grow.