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Scott Stuber and Molly Sims at Netflix Premiere of Red Notice
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Netflix is developing another major video game franchise IP as another potential motion picture for the streaming service. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Netflix is collaborating with The Coalition for a live-action feature and animated series based on the top-selling “Gears of War” game series.

‘Gears Of War’ Is Coming To Netflix

THR reports that Netflix has been in talks for many months to gain the media rights for ‘Gears of War.” The deal involves adapting the game series into a live-action movie and an adult-themed animated series.

Provided the projects turn up strong results, there is hope that more stories based on the “Gears” franchise will follow. The original “Gears of War” debuted on the original Xbox 360 console on November 7, 2006.

The Coalition, formerly Black Tusk Studios, took over game development for the “Gears” franchise back in 2014, when Microsoft acquired the IP from Epic Games. The Coalition has since developed “Gears of War: Ultimate Edition,” “Gears of War 4,” “Gears 5,” and “Gears Tactics.

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Currently, Netflix has no filmmakers or producers onboard for its planned projects. It appears Netflix and The Coalition will be starting from scratch after there were several big-studio attempts to adapt the franchise beforehand. However, nothing ever materialized from those past attempts. As noted by THR, Netflix will be giving the franchise a “fresh start” with its adaptations.

Previously, “Gears of War” was set up at New Line Cinema in 2007 when the studio held the film rights for a brief period of time. Netflix film division head Scott Stuber was previously attached to produce “Gears of War” when the film was set up at Universal Pictures in the mid-2010s. However, it never got past the script stage while at Universal.

The franchise is set on a planet where humanity faces a threat in the form of sentient creatures called Locusts, who seek to wipe out humanity. The disgraced soldier, Sergeant Marcus Fenix, leads the ragtag Delta Squad in the last stand for humanity against the Locusts.

“Gears of War” is not the only iconic video game franchise that Netflix is adapting as a major motion picture. The streamer is also lining up a live-action film adaptation of 2K Games and Take-Two Interactive’s “BioShock” series. Filmmaker Francis Lawrence is attached to bring the world of Rapture to life.

Netflix has also had success with adapting video game IP into various adult animated and anime-style shows, such as “Castlevania,” “Arcane” based on “League of Legends,” and more recently, “Cyberpunk: Edgerunners,” based on CD Projekt RED’s “Cyberpunk 2077.”

https://youtu.be/9QJRZNrD6XU

“Gears of War” is a popular, beloved game series. It’s sold over 40 million copies to date. While the franchise is known for its run-and-gun shooter style, it’s also acclaimed for its rich narrative storyline, in-depth characters, and lore. It also has a very passionate and loyal fanbase.

It will be interesting to see what materializes from this partnership. Some video game movies and IP have had success as of late, such as “Sonic the Hedgehog” and “Uncharted,” but there is still nothing to consider video game IP to be in its Marvel Studios Phase I “Iron Man” stage.”