Netflix's Gears of War Movie Is an 'Origin Story' for Delta Squad
The first details about Netflix's upcoming Gears of War film have finally been revealed, and it appears the movie will not be a direct adaptation of the games. In a recent article from Entertainment Weekly, Xbox executives discussed the company's future plans, which include several major adaptations. Among these is a Gears of War film directed by David Leitch (John Wick, The Fall Guy), which has generated a lot of interest from fans. According to an official description provided by EW, the film will focus on "the origin story of Delta Squad," a group of soldiers fighting a desperate war against the Locust, a subterranean race determined to destroy humanity.
Xbox's Executive Vice President and Chief Content Officer, Matt Booty, shared with EW that the themes of the Gears of War games make them a natural fit for a feature film. “The game really is about the bonds between teams. It's about brotherhood at its core,” Booty said. “When you go visit the studio, their tagline is 'Never Fight Alone.' So when you think about that for a dramatic narrative, it's a pretty good starting point.”
The film may take place between the upcoming game Gears of War: E-Day and the first Gears of War title, which could mean it explores the formation of the Delta Squad. This might also mean that Marcus Fenix, who was in prison before joining Delta Squad in the first game, won't be in the film. However, if the movie is about the origins of the Delta Squad fans know best, it could be a direct adaptation of Gears of War 1. The description is still somewhat vague, so fans will have to wait for more details.
A Gears of War film has been in development since 2007, with various directors and studios attempting to bring Xbox's gritty shooter to the big screen. Netflix acquired the rights to the Gears IP several years ago and has been working on bringing the movie to life while also producing an animated Gears of War series. However, little is known about the progress of the animated series at the moment.
Earlier this year, David Leitch mentioned that the Gears of War film is making great progress behind the scenes, with a new draft of the script actively in development. While the film currently has no release date, Leitch stated that Netflix is “100% behind it”, and the team is determined to bring it to life.
