Zack Snyder, the man known for his visionary approach to the DC Extended Universe and other genre-defining films, is setting his sights on the Gears of War franchise, currently gathering dust at The Coalition.
Now, imagine this proposition meeting the X timeline of Cliff Bleszinski, the original genius behind the gritty, chainsaw-gun-wielding universe.
Bleszinski is known for not holding back, evident from his previous outbursts where he even declared that Marcus Fenix “HAS TO DIE” if Gears 6 ever comes into existence. So, when Snyder expressed his wish to bring Gears of War to life on celluloid, Bleszinski, surprisingly, didn’t disagree. Instead, he gave his blessing, with one caveat – the manly, gravel-voiced Marcus has to be played by Dave Bautista.
Dave Bautista, you say? Now that’s a name that rings in sync with what Marcus Fenix embodies. If you’ve seen Bautista break bones in WWE or bring a distinct emotional range to Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy, you’d know he isn’t just a muscle-bound archetype. Bautista’s most recent collaboration with Snyder, Army of the Dead, where he played a father trying to pull off a heist during a zombie apocalypse, revealed the hidden facets of his acting ability. With Gears of War under the Netflix banner, Snyder’s current creative playground, it’s almost poetic that Bautista and Snyder might reunite for another action-packed saga, at least if the stars align just right.
If nothing else, the existing chemistry between Bautista and Snyder suggests this would go well. Let’s be honest, we’ve seen the Internet will weirder things into existence.
But here’s the curveball. Bleszinski, who initially seemed overjoyed, cast a shadow of doubt by going on a mini-rant of sorts against Snyder’s fanbase, calling them “insufferable.” Now, this is coming from a man who just got his wish for a potential director for his franchise’s big-screen adaptation. It’s certainly an eyebrow-raising move, to say the least, especially since Snyder’s style and tone would likely do justice to the world of Sera and its visceral, emotionally laden lore. Is Bleszinski’s discord enough to derail this cinematic locomotive before it even leaves the station? Time will tell.
Of course, this casting, while perfect on paper, may not work. Bautista may, at times, be too much Dave and less, well, the protagonist, Marcus, paralleling him to how The Rock often drowns out his characters with his own larger-than-life persona. But, let’s not forget, Marcus Fenix isn’t some layered Shakespearean character; he’s a soldier living in a world fighting off subterranean monstrosities. In the hands of a talented actor and an equally visionary director, we could see a nuanced rendition of Marcus Fenix that retains the soul of the character while contributing something fresh and intriguing.
Besides, it’s not like the WWE legend hasn’t tried to diversify his acting range over the years. After ending his MCU stint, he’s currently set to reprise his role in Dune: Part Two, which premieres on March 15, 2024. He’s also returning to star in My Spy: The Eternal City, the sequel to the 2020 film, My Spy. Finally, Bautista is starring in The Killer’s Game, which is currently filming. It’s still unclear when Bautista and Jason Momoa will join each other to do their buddy-cop movie but that’s also on the docket.
So where does this leave us? On the brink of potentially one of the most polarizing and exciting game adaptations to go ahead and happen, it seems. Snyder, whose portfolio includes both cinematic triumphs and divisive projects, is no stranger to fandom’s harsh glares and admiration. Bleszinski, the outspoken creator who’s never afraid to veer towards the controversial territory, continues to fuel conversation around his dormant franchise. Add in Dave Bautista, an actor who is rapidly proving his versatility and expanding his Hollywood portfolio, and you’ve got a potential trifecta that could either soar to greatness or dive into an abyss of online debates and memes.
But even in uncertainty, the allure of possibilities draws us in. The Coalition has been mum, likely fueling the mystery intentionally, but the discourse has been reignited, thanks to these titans of their respective fields. We’re talking about Gears of War again, speculating, hoping, and even debating over casting choices. That’s more life than the franchise has seen in a while. And for fans, that’s a ray of hope, however dim or bright, shining through the Locust-infested dark clouds.
