Netflix’s Gears of War adaptation just took a step closer to realization with the streamer tapping Jon Spaihts to write the adaptation’s screenplay.
Following his enlistment, Spaihts said in a statement to Variety:
Gears of War is one of the all-time great action games, with vivid characters, a beautifully designed world, and a combat system that drives home the lethality of war and the importance of standing by your squadmates. It wants to be cinema, and I’m thrilled to have the chance to help that happen.
The Microsoft-owned franchise chronicles the struggle between humans and an alien reptilian species tagged as the Locust horde on the fictional planet of Sera. It follows a soldier, Marcus Fenix, and his team as they bravely attempt to prevent the extinction of the human race at the hands of the horde.
Originally released in 2006, Gears of War has since grown into a multimedia franchise that includes novels, comic books, as well as merchandise. The third-person shooter video game series is one of the top-selling gaming franchises in the world with over 40 million copies sold across its numerous installments and spin-offs. The original trilogy was well received by critics with widespread praise for its characters and gameplay.
In a statement confirming Spaihts, video game studio The Coalition stated, "We’re thrilled to partner with Jon and the Netflix team to bring ‘Gears of War’ to life. Jon is a master storyteller with a talent for creating epic, science-fiction universes, and he truly loves ‘Gears of War.’ We couldn’t ask for a better partner to honor our franchise and deliver an authentic story to our fans."
Netflix landed the adaptation rights to the Gears of War franchise last November. Apart from the feature film adaptation, the company also has plans for an adult animated series.
Before the streamer came on board, several studios had tried to adapt the series for the big screen, from New Line Cinema in 2007, to Universal Pictures in 2017, all to no avail. Given the property’s long history of failed adaptations, the game’s fans have every right to be wary.
However, Netflix has a history of successful adaptations of material from other mediums for the screen, including Arcane, The Witcher, and DOTA: Dragon Blood. Besides, the company’s Spaihts hire proves it means business and is ready to move fast, which bodes well for a successful adaptation.
Spaihts co-wrote the science fiction film, Dune, which is an adaptation of Frank Herbert’s science fiction novel of the same name. His work on the film earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay, alongside director Denis Villeneuve and co-writer Eric Roth. Spaihts also co-wrote the Marvel Cinematic Universe movie Doctor Strange in 2016 and several other films like Passengers and Prometheus.
While Netflix hasn’t hired any cast for the adaptation, former wrestler Dave Bautista has expressed his interest in playing the protagonist on numerous occasions. Bautista has the support of the franchise’s creator, Cliff Bleszinski; however, it remains to be seen whether he will get his wish.
