'Gears of War' movie rights optioned by Universal, but will it ever happen?
Hollywood continues to try and make a Gears of War movie happen.
Universal Pictures has optioned the rights to Microsoft's popular Xbox video game franchise, it announced Wednesday.
The Gears of War series has grossed more than $1 billion worldwide, but despite an army of fans, a movie adaptation has been stuck in development hell.
The same goes for numerous other video game adaptations, such as Halo, BioShock, Call of Duty, Gran Turisimo, Kane & Lynch, The Last of Us, Mass Effect, Metal Gear Solid, Splinter Cell and Uncharted. Some of these films have talent (actors/writers/directors) attached, but most don't.
Assassin's Creed, led by Michael Fassbender, will be the next major box office test for video game movies following Warcraft's inability to connect with American audiences -- though it did big business in China. Other projects that are closer to coming to fruition include Tomb Raider starring Alicia Vikander, Rampage with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Minecraft from director Rob McElhenney, and The Division starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Jessica Chastain.
Scott Stuber (Ted) and Dylan Clark (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) will produce the Gears of War movie, but don't hold your breath waiting for this one. Both producers have a busy slate, so it could be a while.
The latest entry in the video game franchise, Gears of War 4, will be released on Oct. 11. That may have to tide you over for now.
BONUS: Why the 'HALO' movie will never get out of Development Hell
