Summary
- The Gears of War games boast a deep lore, presenting more than just action to translate into a movie.
- The Gears of War movie must focus on essential characters beyond Marcus Fenix.
- Dominic Santiago is the heart of the original Gears of War trilogy and deserves a proper adaptation.
The Gears of War movie needs to ensure one character from the games aside from Marcus Fenix gets the treatment they deserve. The Gears of War games started in 2006 on the Xbox 360. The series focused on humanity's battle against the subterranean Locust threat, with the franchise evolving over the years and even switching protagonists in later sequels. The Gears of War games are primarily third-person shooters, though games like Gears Tactics have seen the franchise venture into other genres, with it set to continue with Gears of War: E-Day on the way.
Since the franchise's debut, several studios and creative minds have attempted to develop a movie adaptation of Gears of War. None of those projects ever saw the light of day for various reasons. However, Netflix announced it was taking a shot at the long-gestating project in 2022, with updates on their adaptation going silent until recently. Deadpool 2 and Bullet Train director David Leitch was announced as having signed on to direct the Gears of War movie for the streaming service, with Dune co-writer Jon Spaihts penning the script. While the film is likely still years away, the Gears of War adaptation needs to ensure it gets more than just Marcus Fenix right.
10 Reasons To Revisit The Gears Of War Trilogy
With a new remaster on the way, there's never been a better time to return to the legendary, gore-drenched Gears of War trilogy.
The Gears Of War Franchise Of Games Feature A Deep Story To Adapt To A Film
The original Gears of War game trilogy saw Marcus Fenix as the protagonist, fighting against the Locust Horde on an Earth-like planet called Sera. Later games would see his son JD and Kait Diaz in leading roles against a new threat called the Swarm. However, the movie will likely tell Marcus' story, focusing on his time with Delta Squad and their battle against the Locust, potentially highlighting early villains like RAAM and overarching foes like Myrrah.
While the movie will at least need to set the stakes of the world, the film will also need to establish the point in history it will follow. The first Gears of War game took place 14 years after E-Day, or Emergence Day, which saw the Locust Horde launch a coordinated attack that devastated the human population of Sera. With the upcoming game Gears of War: E-Day in development, the movie may attempt to tell a similar story focusing on that time, but they would be better suited to the first Gears of War story, where humanity's hope is dwindling and their future could be bleak.
Following Marcus Fenix in the first Gears of War game would allow viewers to learn the world's backstory, seeing Marcus freed from prison and starting at a low point. It could also feature his rise to an eventual leader of Delta Squad, seeing the film focus mainly on him, Dom, Baird, and Cole on a mission that sees them attempting to map the Locust tunnels, even offering a backstory with Marcus' dad, whose research aids in their last-ditch effort. While the movie could try to cover more stories from the sequels, they are likely hoping for a franchise of films, meaning the adaptations will take their time covering the Gears of War story.
Many Gears Of War Characters Are Perfect For A Big Screen Adaptation (Even If The Film Goes Straight To Netflix)
Spoilers for Gears of War characters are below.
The Gears of War games have many distinct characters perfect for translating to the big screen. The movie adaptation can delve into Marcus' relationship with Anya Stroud, which spans the course of the games, starting small and slowly building over the series. Anya would even don the COG armor and join Marcus on the battlefield, with the two eventually marrying and having a son, JD. JD would be the protagonist of Gears of War 4, seeing Marcus become a reclusive father, mirroring many of his troubles with his father.
The members of Delta Squad would also be important to the Gears of War movie, with Baird and Cole having a unique bond that fans will want to see. The two have conflicting personalities, but have been fighting together since E-Day, making them brothers in the fight. Baird's cynical nature is often the antithesis of Cole's larger-than-life personality. Cole, or "Cole Train," is a former Thrashball star turned COG who was always a standout in the games, with the character likely being one that is imperative to translate for fans. The movie could also have a lot of fun incorporating Anthony Carmine, or another member of the Carmine family, as gamers would know they'll likely meet their demise.
While the Gears of War games are presented as bloody action games, there is a deep lore to the characters, and there are emotional stakes they each deal with throughout the series. Gear 5 was even able to pack an emotional punch with the sacrifice of Jack, the team's robot sidekick. However, the one character the Gears of War movie needs to get right, aside from Marcus, is his brother-in-arms, Dominic "Dom" Santiago.
Why Dominic Santiago Is Way Too Important To Get Wrong In The Gears Of War Movie
Dom is Marcus' right-hand man throughout the first three Gears of War games, and their bond runs deep. They grew up as childhood friends, and Marcus also fought alongside Dom's older brother Carlos in the Pendulum Wars. However, Carlos dies, which Marcus harbors a deep guilt over, so when he and Dom later fight side by side, he feels a protective responsibility toward Dom. While Marcus may be the protagonist of the Gears of War games, Dom is undoubtedly the heart of the games.
Dom never faltered in his support of Marcus, even during his court-martial, with Dom freeing Marcus from prison at the start of the first game. Beyond being an unwavering friend, Dom's story packs some of the franchise's biggest emotional gut punches, as his journey is motivated by the search for his wife, which comes to a tragic end in Gears of War 2. Furthermore, Dom makes the ultimate sacrifice in Gears of War 3, which puts every gamer into a state of shock, but proves how strong a character he is, as his decision was both selfless and complex due to his prior traumas. Marcus would even name his son after Dom, as JD's full name is James Dominic Fenix.
The Gears of War movie is still in the early stages of development. There are no official story details, casting, or release date, as cameras are unlikely to roll for some time. However, as the script is being written, it is imperative to remember that the games are more than just violent action. They offer unique characters with backstories that deserve proper treatment when brought to the big screen, and none are more critical to the emotional stakes of Gears of War than Dominic Santiago.
