GEARS OF WAR Movie Is in Development at Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures has picked up the rights to Microsoft's hit video game Gears of War, and they are will be adapting it into a feature film. I'm a huge fan of the Gears of War franchise, and I'm eagerly awaiting the fourth installment, set to be released next week!
I've always thought a film based on the property would be insanely badass if it was done right. The Studio has brought on producers Scott Stuber (Ted, The Kingdom) and Dylan Clark (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) to head the film's development.
Rod Fergusson, the head of game development and The Coalition game studios, talked to Variety about teaming up with Universal to making this happen, saying:
“As a way to support the franchise the next logical step was to make the movie. We’d done comics and novels in the past but the opportunity to work with Universal to bring the movie to life was perfect.”
In case you're wondering if the film will be a direct adaptation of the game, the answer is yes and no. Fergusson understands that video games and movies are two different mediums, and they will make a movie that feels genuine to the game. He explains:
“I think you have to let the movies be the movies. They’re two different mediums, and two different audiences in some cases, and I think some video game movies in the past have failed because they tried to make a movie for gamers. If you have this great IP with a deep backstory and lots of lore that you can make interesting stories out of it’s great, but if you just go after the gaming audience then it isn’t going to be a successful movie.
“That’s one of the great things about working with Universal. We’re finding that line where we can say it has enough lore and canon that it feels genuine to the game while at the same time going beyond that and asking ‘OK what makes a great movie?'”
I'm excited to see how this film project develops and who will ultimately write, direct, and star in it. Those answers will eventually come, but in the meantime, what do you think about Universal taking on this project, and who would you like to see star in and direct it? I can't help but think that Dwayne Johnson is already on the top of their list to star.
One other thing... this movie better be rated R! Otherwise, what the hell is the point? The game is known for its insanely bloody and violent deaths!