Gears of War, one of the most popular Xbox video game series of all time, is heading to Netflix.
The sci-fi shooter franchise is being adapted for a feature film by the streamer, followed by an adult animation series, with the possibility of further stories.
The announcement comes after months of negotiations when the streamer finally was able to secure the media rights and form a partnership with The Coalition, the Canadian game company responsible for the franchise. It also coincides with the 16th anniversary of the franchise. (The original Gears of War game was launched on Nov. 7, 2006).
In the game, underground creatures known as the Locust pushes humanity to the point of extinction on the planet on the brink of collapse. Marcus Fenix, a disgraced soldier who now commands the ragged fireteam known as Delta Squad, is in charge of organizing humanity’s final defense.
The Gears of War franchise has sold over 40 million copies throughout its five main installments and various spinoffs. The games are credited for pioneering the third-person shooter video game genre.
Several attempts have been made throughout the years to adapt Gears of War for the big screen. A film adaptation was temporarily owned by New Line Cinema in 2007 before Scott Stuber, who is currently in charge of Netflix’s original content, joined Epic Games as a producer in 2014. Universal then hired F. Scott Frazier to write an adaptation in 2018, but nothing else was done.