After years in development hell, the production of the Gears of War movie, based on the popular video game, is finally taking shape. In May 2025, The Hollywood Reporter broke the news that Fall Guy director David Leitch is helming the adaptation of the space-set video game. He and his wife, Kelly McCormick, will also serve as producers for the film via their 87North banner along with The Coalition. The road toward this significant development has seen its highs and lows over the years.
Gears of War Movie
Development
Gears of War is a sci-fi action game series set on planet Sera, where humanity is locked in a desperate war against monstrous underground creatures called the Locust Horde. The story follows Marcus Fenix, a battle-hardened soldier, and his squad as they fight to protect what’s left of civilization while uncovering the truth behind the Locust and their origins.
In 2022, Netflix announced that it had acquired the rights for the adaptation of the Xbox game, with Dune: Part Two scribe Jon Spaihts writing the script. However, updates on the film have stalled since that first announcement. So much so that Dave Bautista, widely touted by fans to be cast in the film, had to speak up to urge the streamer to “get it together”.
“Start an online thing about freaking Gears of War. Come on, Netflix. Come on already. It’s not like I’m not badgering them. Come on, Netflix. Get it together,” the “Guardians of the Galaxy” star said during an interview with Comic Book in February this year.
Bautista himself has never been attached to the film, though series creator Cliff Bleszinski did champion his involvement in the movie. Fans online seem to agree, with Bautista’s name frequently cropping up in fan casting for lead character Marcus Fenix.
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Gears of War Movie
Fans or stars notwithstanding, it’s understandable that people are growing weary of the lack of developments. After all, it has been three whole years since Netflix announced the project. Since then, more and more game adaptations – be it on TV or in theaters – have been released to great acclaim. The Last of Us and Fallout became streaming sensations with tons of accolades and viewership. Meanwhile, The Super Mario Bros Movie, Five Nights at Freddy’s, and A Minecraft Movie grossed hundreds of millions (or, in the case of Mario, over a billion) dollars at the box office. Video game adaptations are booming. As one of the most popular game IPs out there, a Gears of War movie couldn’t come at a more opportune time.
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Creative Team
With Leitch’s appointment as Gears of War’s director, things can now begin in earnest. The former stuntman’s credit includes the aforementioned Fall Guy, a love letter to stuntmanship starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt (superbly choreographed), the Fast and Furious spin-off Hobbs & Shaw with Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham (bombastic, as expected of the franchise), the Brad Pitt-starrer Bullet Train (fun idea, fun cast), Ryan Reynolds-led Deadpool 2 (winsome and spectacular) and the underrated Atomic Blonde starring Charlize Theron.
As you can see, he’s got a knack for big-budget action-heavy blockbusters with massive stars. These will come in handy when it comes to Gears of War’s complex and sure-to-be pricey production. Netflix certainly has high hopes for the IP, hoping to turn it into another video game adaptation behemoth as its competitors have done. The streamer reportedly plans to develop the brand into a feature film that they can then spin into an adult animated series, and undoubtedly, more to come if these succeed.
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Gears of War Movie
Leitch will still be working off of Spaihts’ script. The writer previously worked with Oscar-nominated director Denis Villeneuve on his Dune films, so he’s no stranger to adapting stories with epic scope. With these two in the helm, the Gears of War movie is reasonably off to a great start. In August, co-producer McCormick shared an update on the project, revealing that they are "writing right now" with Spaihts. With a new Gears of War game due out in 2026, she also said that the planned feature will have some relevance to the new release.
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Gears of War Movie
We’re writing right now with Jon Spaihts, and we’re really excited about it,” she said. “There’s a lot of energy from The Coalition [Gears of War developer] and from Netflix, because The Coalition is releasing a game in 2026. We won’t hit that release date, but maybe something that feels relevant to the release of the new game.” She added, “It’s an opportunity for David to do a war film, which he hasn’t gotten to do yet, and a bit of sci-fi in his own way with this beloved IP in his own way.”
McCormick’s remark about not hitting the release date is a strong hint that the feature might not come out next year. However, it’s still a welcome update. Fans can now expect the forthcoming 2026 game to hint at what the film plot could be. So far, the production has not lined up any cast, which is where fans come in with their own wishlist!
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Fancast
Dave Bautista as Marcus Fenix
Bautista has the size, intensity, and stoic presence to embody Marcus, a character defined by his gruff voice and battle-hardened leadership. His experience in both action and dramatic roles makes him more than just the muscle – he can carry Marcus’s quiet grief and loyalty to his squad. Fans have long associated him with the role, so seeing him in the armor would feel like a natural fit.
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Terry Crews as Augustus “Cole Train” Cole
Cole Train is all about energy, charisma, and a love for the fight, and Crews naturally radiates that same larger-than-life enthusiasm. His comedic timing would highlight Cole’s funnier one-liners, while his physicality would bring the raw athleticism of the ex-thrashball player to life. Crews could capture both the comic relief and the brotherly bond Cole shares with Delta Squad.
Oscar Isaac as Dominic Santiago
Dom is the emotional heart of Gears of War, torn between loyalty to Marcus and grief for his missing wife, and Isaac has the dramatic range to make that pain deeply felt. His ability to balance warmth and intensity would make Dom’s friendship with Marcus feel authentic and lived-in. Isaac could give Dom’s tragic storyline the gravitas it deserves without losing his quiet toughness.
Katheryn Winnick as Anya Stroud
Winnick has proven herself as a warrior-leader in Vikings, and that same mix of strength and compassion suits Anya, who shifts from a support role to a frontline fighter. She can project command without losing emotional nuance, which fits Anya’s role as both strategist and eventual Gear on the battlefield. Winnick would bring credibility and heart to a character often balancing war and personal ties.
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Simon Pegg as Anthony Carmine
Casting Pegg as Carmine is unconventional, but it could work brilliantly given Carmine’s rookie vulnerability and endearing personality. Pegg excels at playing the everyman caught in extraordinary circumstances, which fits Carmine’s place in Delta Squad. His humor and likability would make Carmine’s fate hit even harder with audiences.
John Cena as Damon Baird
Baird is sarcastic, brilliant, and a bit of a jerk, which makes Cena’s casting surprisingly sharp since he’s been leaning into comedic arrogance in recent roles. Cena’s mix of cocky charm and physical presence would give Baird a modern, fun twist while staying true to the character’s prickly genius. Plus, seeing him spar verbally with Crews’s Cole would be comedy gold.
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Stephen Lang as Colonel Victor Hoffman
Lang is no stranger to grizzled military authority (see: Avatar), and Hoffman is basically the embodiment of “tough love commander.” His commanding presence and gravelly delivery would make every barked order feel authentic. With Lang, Hoffman would come across as intimidating yet deeply respected – a perfect mentor-figure clashing with Marcus.
Tilda Swinton as Queen Myrrah
Swinton thrives in roles that are regal, eerie, and commanding, and Queen Myrrah embodies all three. Her ability to project calm menace would make the Locust Queen both terrifying and strangely sympathetic. Swinton would elevate Myrrah beyond a standard villain into an unforgettable presence.
With a credible team behind the camera and a strong fan devotion, Gears of War has everything going for it to succeed. Whenever it comes out, hopefully sooner than later, it will surely be an event worth keeping an eye out for!
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Gears of War Movie
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Sources:
https://screenrant.com/gears-of-war-movie-update-dave-bautista-response/
https://screenrant.com/gears-of-war-netflix-movie-script-update-kelly-mccormick/
