(Left) David Leitch in Paris for ‘Bullet Train.’ Credit: Oliver Vigerie/Sony Pictures. (Right) ‘Gears of War 3’. Photo: Gearsofwar.com.
Preview:
- David Leitch is boarding ‘Gears of War.’
- Netflix nabbed the rights to adapt the game in 2006.
- It follows humanity’s battle against creatures called the Locust.
Back in 2022, Netflix looked to stay in the video game adaptation race by nabbing the rights to developers Epic Games and The Coalition’s successful title ‘Gears of War.’
Since then, it has been slow progress in development –– but then, this has been a tricky project to bring to screens.
Plot TBA. Based on the video game series of the same name. Read the Plot
Way back in 2007, New Line Cinema had the rights, aiming to bring a theatrical version to life, with ‘Underworld’ and ‘Live Free or Die Hard’ director Len Wiseman attached to direct.
But it lingered in limbo for a few years, with Wiseman ditching the project and reports of budget cuts. Around 2016, word arrived that Universal and Microsoft were working on a version of the movie that would be separate from the games’ canon.
Again, things went awfully quiet until Netflix announced it had taken over the rights.
Now, via The Hollywood Reporter, word arrives that the streaming service has zeroed in on the filmmaker it wants to bring the movie to life: David Leitch.
The director has become something of a go-to for action, and ‘Gears of War’ certainly fits that bill.
Related Article: ‘Bullet Train’ and ‘The Fall Guy’ Director in Talks to Roll the Dice on ‘Ocean’s Fourteen’
What’s the story of the ‘Gears of War’ games?
‘Gears of War’. Photo: Gearsofwar.com.
Set on the planet Sera, the game thrusts players into a battle for survival between humans and a race of creatures that surface from the bowels of the planet known as the Locust Horde.
Players assume identities of soldiers on Delta Squad, a ragtag fireteam led by disgraced sergeant Marcus Fenix, which is now charged with leading humanity’s last stand as they fight to save Sera’s inhabitants.
‘Gears,’ developed by Epic Games (and now overseen by Canadian company The Coalition), became an instant success when it debuted on the Xbox 360 in November 2006.
It became one of the most popular games on the Xbox Live service, overtaking ‘Halo 2,’ and sold more than 3 million units worldwide in its first 10 weeks. It received numerous awards, including Gamespot’s Game of the Year and the Interactive Achievement Awards’ Overall Game of the Year.
Netflix has big plans for the project –– an animated series is in parallel development, with the aim to expand the franchise if this first film is a success.
Jon Spaihts, who has been working with Denis Villeneuve on adapting Frank Herbert’s ‘Dune’ books for Legendary, is writing the script for the movie.
What else is David Leitch involved with?
David Leitch in Paris for ‘Bullet Train.’ Credit: Oliver Vigerie/Sony Pictures.
David Leitch has spun quite the career from his days as a stuntman doubling for Keanu Reeves. After graduating to stunt coordinator and second-unit director, he co-directed ‘John Wick’ with action colleague Chad Stahelski.
He’s since gone on to make the likes of ‘Atomic Blonde,’‘Deadpool 2,’‘Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw’ and ‘Bullet Train.’
Last year’s ‘The Fall Guy,’ which starred Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, didn’t succeed at the box office but doesn’t seem to have hurt Leitch’s prospects.
(L to R) Director David Leitch and Ryan Gosling (as Colt Seavers) on the set of ‘The Fall Guy.’
He has a lot of other projects on his plate at the moment, both as a director and as producer via his 87North company, which he runs with wife and fellow producer Kelly McCormick.
Currently in first position for his directorial side is ‘How to Rob a Bank,’ which will star Nicholas Hoult, Zoë Kravitz, Anna Sawai, Pete Davidson and Rhenzy Feliz.
Amazon MGM Studios is backing that movie, whose plot details are locked in a vault for now, but Mark Bianculli wrote the script and is an executive producer. Leitch is at work on the movie now and aims to have it in theaters on September 4th, 2026.
There’s also the long-bubbling ‘Ocean’s 14’ movie, which Leitch has been in talks to direct.
As producers, Leitch and McCormick have a wealth of projects in the works –– they’re aboard sequels to ‘Nobody’ and Christmas thriller ‘Violent Night’ and a variety of others, including ‘Ruiner,’‘Red Shirt’ and another video game title, ‘Just Cause.’
Assuming his ‘Gears’ deal goes through, Leitch will also produce that, while The Coalition is also involved.
What other video game titles are headed to screens?
(L to R) Jack Black, Jason Momoa and Sebastian Hansen in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ ‘A Minecraft Movie,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Video game adaptations are certainly having a moment on screens big and small –– ‘A Minecraft Movie’ is still earning money at the box office, while ‘Fallout’ has been successful for Amazon’s Prime Video arm.
Other titles on the way include sequels to ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ and ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’.
It’s not all sunshine and roses, however, as some movies in the genre haven’t performed as well –– Screen Gems’ ‘Until Dawn’ is a recent example, taking in less than $50 million worldwide so far (albeit on a relatively thrifty $15 million budget).
When will ‘Gears of War’ be on Netflix?
While Leitch is reported as in negotiations, Netflix has yet to confirm his attachment to the movie. So chances are we’ll have to wait to see whether this moves forward quickly, and will be delayed at least until after Leitch makes the bank heist movie.
‘Gears of War 2’. Photo: Gearsofwar.com.
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