Following months of negotiations, Netflix has landed the rights to popular XBox video game Gears of War. The streamer will partner with The Coalition, the video game developer behind the series, and work with them to not only develop a feature film adaptation but also an animated series.
As of right now, there are no producers, writers or directors involved but the property is expected to be a top priority for Netflix and development should begin quickly on getting those positions filled.
The game is set on a planet on the brink of societal collapse when a monstrous threat from below in the form of underground creatures known as the Locust takes humanity to the verge of extinction. Delta Squad, a fireteam led by disgraced sergeant Marcus Fenix, is now charged with leading humanity’s last stand.
Hollywood has tried for years to get a project off the ground given the scope and franchise potential of the property but no adaptation has ever come to fruition. At one point, Netflix Studio Chief Scott Stuber was producing an adaptation which makes sense why Netflix was so aggressive in pursuing the rights to the property.
The news comes as the video is celebrating its 16th anniversary with the first video game dropping on Nov. 7, 2006. Since then it has become one of the more successful video game franchises, with more than 40 million copies sold over six separate installments.
This isn’t the only video game property adaptation at Netflix as the streamer is also developing a Bioshock movie having recently tapped Francis Lawrence to helm. The Hollywood Reporter was the first to break the news of Netflix landing rights to Gears of War.
