Today, during the Gears of War Live broadcast, The Coalition’s head, Rod Fergusson, announced that Universal Pictures will produce a new movie based on the popular Gears of War video game series. ICXM spotted this news first.
Known for major titles, Universal Pictures has Scott Stuber (from Ted and Central Intelligence) and Dylan Clark (from Planet of the Apes) on board as producers under their Universal-based Bluegrass Films company. Universal’s Jon Mone and Bluegrass’s Jay Ireland will oversee the project.
The Gears of War franchise has been a major success since it first launched, with over $1 billion in revenue and more than 45 million players worldwide. Microsoft bought the franchise in 2014, bringing back series co-creator Rod Fergusson to lead The Coalition, a studio focused exclusively on Gears of War. The franchise recently expanded with Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, a popular remake, and Gears of War 4 launched in 2016 as a big holiday release for Xbox One and Windows 10.
However, the movie announcement comes amidst a lawsuit involving one of the game’s beloved characters, Augustus “Cole Train” Cole. Lenwood Hamilton filed a suit against the character’s voice actor, Lester Speight, claiming that the character stole his likeness and voice. Hamilton argues that Cole Train’s appearance and voice resemble him, down to details like race, style, and voice tone.
Hamilton is hoping to claim part of the franchise’s profits as the case moves forward, but it is not expected to affect the development of future games.
Mark Parker is the owner and lead author at ICXM.net, a news site for gaming, technology, and entertainment. With over 20 years of gaming experience, Mark has clocked over 10,000 hours playing titles like Halo, Gears of War, and Forza Horizon. He’s a PC and Xbox enthusiast, having built custom gaming rigs and Xbox consoles to fuel his passion for immersive gameplay. From analyzing hardware to reviewing AAA games, Mark combines technical know-how with a deep love for gaming. At ICXM.net, he shares industry insights, hands-on reviews, and breaking news for a loyal audience of gaming fans.