Latest news with #JonSpaihts
Geek Tyrant
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
David Leitch in Talks to Direct Netflix's Big-Budget GEARS OF WAR Movie — GeekTyrant
It looks like Gears of War is finally getting the cinematic firepower it deserves. David Leitch, who recently directed the The Fall Guy , is now in negotiations to helm Netflix's long-gestating feature adaptation of the legendary Xbox video game series. This marks a big move for Netflix, which scooped up the rights back in 2022 and has been quietly putting together the pieces for what it hopes will become a major franchise. Leitch will produce the movie alongside his wife and creative partner Kelly McCormick under their 87North banner. They'll be teaming up with The Coalition, the Vancouver-based studio that currently steers the Gears games. Gears of War is basically testosterone-fueled sci-fi warfare turned up to 11. The story is set on a dying planet where subterranean monsters called the Locust emerge to wage war on the last scraps of human civilization. At the center is Marcus Fenix, a grizzled, battle-scarred ex-soldier leading Delta Squad on what's essentially a suicide mission to save humanity. The movie is being written by Jon Spaihts, best known for Dune and Prometheus . With him handling the script, fans can expect a grounded, cinematic world that still captures the grit, madness, and scale of the games. Leitch seems like a natural fit for Gears . His action pedigree is tough to beat. Hhe's the guy behind Bullet Train , Atomic Blonde , Deadpool 2 , John Wick , and Hobbs & Shaw . He knows his way around an action scene, and more importantly, he knows how to make action feel personal, stylish, and character-driven. Netflix's plan is to lead with this feature film, follow up with an adult animated series, and expand from there… assuming audiences watch and like what they see. According to Gears of War head Rod Fergusson, the movie will not be set in the same reality of the game. It will be its own thing and tell its own story, a story that will not be dependent on the games. He previously explained: 'In order for the movie to be successful, it has to be a great movie first and a Gears movie second. Basically the way that we sort of reconciled that was, we said, 'oh the movie should be an alternate reality. It should not be dependent on the game story, nor should it influence the game story.'' Fergusson added: 'I've heard of other franchises who come with this really large story Bible and this really sort of, here are all the rules now go and deal with 700 pages of how you live in our world. 'When we did it, we were two pages. I was like, 'Here's two pages of thou shall nots and recommendations.' We want people to have the freedom to have new ideas and to take things differently.' It was also said that there are still certain staples of the franchise that will be true for the movie. Fergusson revealed that it should be set on Sera and that it should star certain characters that are familiar to fans. The gears are in motion. And with Leitch at the helm, there's a real shot this adaptation could be badass! Source: THR
Digital Trends
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
This Netflix movie based on a popular video game now has a director
Netflix is riding the wave of popularity for video game adaptations by commissioning a Gears of War movie. The streamer is recruiting a former stuntman turned director to helm the action spectacle. Per The Hollywood Reporter, David Leitch is in negotiations to direct Gears of War for Netflix. Jon Spaihts, the Academy Award-nominated co-writer of Dune, will pen the Gears of War screenplay. Recommended Videos Leitch and Kelly McCormick, Leitch's wife and creative partner, will produce the Netflix adaptation through their 87 North banner. Netflix will partner with The Coalition Studio, the Canadian video game developer, to produce the feature film adaptation. Netflix acquired the rights to Gears of War in 2022. The streamer has plans to make a blockbuster adaptation of the video game before expanding to other mediums, including an adult animated series. Released in 2006, Gears of War is a third-person shooter game set on the fictional Earth-like planet of Sera. With society on the brink of extinction, humans engage in a war with vicious underground creatures known as the Locust Horde. The game follows soldiers Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago of the Delta Squad in a fight to save humanity against the Locust forces. Gears of War became the fastest-selling video game of 2006 and one of the best-selling franchises for the Xbox 360. There have been eight Gears of War video games, which include the main series, spinoffs, and prequels. Leitch began his career as a stunt performer, doubling for Brad Pitt and then working on two Matrix movies. After working as the uncredited co-director of John Wick, Leitch helmed his first feature with 2017's Atomic Blonde. Since Atomic Blonde, Leitch has become a reliable action director backed by excellent stuntwork. Leitch's other films include Deadpool 2, Hobbs & Shaw, Bullet Train, and The Fall Guy. Leitch's next movie is 2026's How to Rob a Bank, a crime thriller with Nicolas Hoult, Pete Davidson, and Anna Sawai.
Gizmodo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
David Leitch Is Going Into Battle Directing ‘Gears of War'
The 'John Wick' filmmaker has signed on to helm the movie based on the hit Xbox video game franchise. Netflix's long-anticipated film adaptation of Xbox's premier video game franchise, Gears of War, is finally gathering some momentum. Filmmaker David Leitch (The Fall Guy) has signed on to helm the blockbuster take on the Gears of War game series for Netflix. The Hollywood Reporter broke the news that he and his production company 87North will be partnering up with the Coalition Studio, the video game's developers, for the movie. The script will be written by Dune scribe Jon Spaihts. The game is based in a universe where the planet Sera is close to total societal collapse and humanity faces a new monstrous threat: the Locust. The franchise follows the Delta Squad, a regiment under the command of Sergeant Marcus Fenix, who hopes to clear his name and the ragtag army by taking on the threat through gratuitous chainsaw-gunning. They're humanity's last line of defense against invasion. Netflix has had the rights to make the games into a franchise since 2022. Leitch's involvement begs the question if some of his frequent actor collaborators might take part in the action. The film follows Netflix's past video game adaptations which include Castlevania, Sonic Prime, and the upcoming Resident Evil and Horizon Zero Dawn.
