Film adaptations of video games have never been the most prevalent genre, but it figures to only be a matter of time before the genre hits it big. This year is proof that despite past failures, studios continue to try and make this genre successful. Based on the popular MMO World of Warcraft, Warcraft was released earlier this year to not-so-favorable reviews and a lack of the high box office numbers needed. At the end of this year, Assassin’s Creed will try to be the saving grace of the genre, but will have its work cut out for it to break through a crowded few weeks.
As studios continue to adapt popular games like Tomb Raider with Alicia Vikander or The Division with Jake Gyllenhaal and Jessica Chastain, fewer game titles will remain available. One of the more popular games over the last century has been the Gears of War franchise, and it looks like this is the latest video game that will get the big screen treatment.
The Coalition Studio is currently holding a special launch event for their fourth and newest installment in the Gears of War video game franchise, but took some time to announce the big news. Studio head Rod Fergusson announced at the event that a Gears of War movie is in development and Universal will help make this possible. The film will have Scott Stuber and Dylan Clark serve as producers out of Universal’s production company Bluegrass Films.
This announcement came out of nowhere but it should not be surprising that Universal has made this move. The video game franchise has grossed over $1 billion in total, so there is a market there for reliable fans that will certainly come out to support the movie. Depending on how quickly it comes out, the uniqueness of the concept and world should make it a highly anticipated movie for not just gamers, but action movie fans as well.
The main storyline through the games follows a man by the name of Marcus Fenix as he fights off Locust that have inhabited the Earth-like planet of Sera. The games are ultra-violent thanks to their unique weapon, the Chainsaw Bayonet, which should allow Gears of War to carve out a nice niche in the video game movie genre. The movie adaptation would likely follow the storyline of the first game, but could also tell a new story if desired. Either way, a high budget R-rated video game film is not a common package in Hollywood, but it could be.
Stay tuned to Screen Rant for more information about the Gears of War movie as it becomes available.
Source: The Coalition Studio
