An adaptation of the classic Xbox game series Gears of War has been in various stages of development over the past decade. Now that the Halo series is streaming on Paramount+, it seems like now is the time to strike while the iron is hot for major, well-crafted video game adaptations.
Different corners of the internet can be consulted when it comes time to cast the film because there's plenty of speculation about who could play whom. Some of them seem very likely while others probably aren't so much, but it's still fun to imagine how it would all shake out on the big screen.
Dominic Santiago: Oscar Isaac
When it comes to casting series lead Marcus Fenix's right-hand buddy, hurky-pandora thinks it should be given to Moon Knight star Oscar Isaac.
Along with five other fan castings, the Redditor posted a photo of Isaac next to a screengrab of Dominic "Dom" Santiago from Gears of War 3. Santiago is consistently the man by Fenix's side, which is logical considering they've been friends since childhood. While the character is quite a bit more burly than Isaac, there's little doubt the actor could sell the script's emotional beats. Furthermore, Santiago has the traits to make him one of Isaac's most likable characters.
Anthony Carmine: Simon Pegg
The ill-fated Anthony Carmine was a rookie, thrown into battle alongside experienced fighters like Fenix and Santiago. Anthony dies while messing with his helmet, but the series always managed to find other members of the Carmine family to incorporate.
Simon Pegg could voice/portray all who are included, with the armor-clad Anthony being his role in the first film before he portrays Benjamin in the second and the surviving Clayton in the third. If all goes well, they could end up being three of Pegg's highest-grossing movies.
Anya Stroud: Katheryn Winnick
COG officer Anya Stroud enters the service to follow in her mother's footsteps. The former eventually witnesses the latter's death on the battlefield, and that's just one subplot that would serve to make Stroud's one of the film's better arcs. She would also have a romantic dynamic with Fenix and seeing two people who love one another fight with chainsaw-fixed machine guns sounds appealing.
Those at WhatCulture suggested Vikings star Katheryn Winnick for the role. The site points to Winnick's ability to convey the character's supreme intellect and formidability on the battlefield.
Minh Young Kim: Jason Scott Lee
The onetime commander of Delta Squad, Minh Young Kim would have a major role in the first Gears of War film, and his arc would result in one of the movie's bigger moments. In the game, Kim gets impaled from behind by the primary villain, General RAAM, and Fenix is put in the position where he must avenge his former CO's death.
The Jungle Book (1994) and Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story star Jason Scott Lee recently had a big role in Disney's live-action remake of Mulan. Now that he's back in Hollywood's sight, he'd be a great choice to lead the Delta Squad.
Damon Baird: John Cena
John Cena has the look for Damon Baird down pat. Furthermore, he can pull off Baird's overbearing sense of humor, as seen in projects like Blockers and, especially, Peacemaker.
If Gears of War ends up being a bigger-budgeted, sci-fi version of The Expendables, Cena would need to be a lock, just as it was inevitable he'd end up starring in a Fast & Furious sequel. His interactions with Isaac's Santiago and Fenix would prove to be a very interesting dynamic with snappy dialogue and a lot of mid-war interpersonal conflict.
Augustus Cole: Terry Crews
Augustus Cole is arguably the easiest character to cast in Gears of War. Playing Cole wouldn't be Terry Crews's first go-round with a major video game property, as his likeness and vocal work were used for one of the optional protagonists in Crackdown 3.
Redditor Hurky-pandora was one of several individuals across the internet to recommend Crews for the role, and it certainly seems like a wish that could become reality. Cole's one of the most likable characters from the entire series, if not the most likable, so Crews is a natural fit. However, if Terry Crews isn't available, the team can call up Cole's video game portrayer, Lester Speight.
Adam Fenix: Brian Cox
Professor Adam Fenix would be one of the smarter characters in the movie, and Succession's Brian Cox can play nothing if not intelligent.
Cox has also been in enough action films with big budgets to be more than comfortable in the role. Adam is protagonist Marcus Fenix's father, so it would be a juicy part and one of Cox's best roles, especially considering he's at one point charged with essentially stopping the end of the world. Some of the film's better small moments would feature Cox's character, so it's for the best to have an acting titan on board.
Col. Victor Hoffman: Stephen Lang
Colonel Victor Hoffman would serve as a high-ranking COG officer in the Gears of War movie just as he did in the games. That's part of his appeal, as he's a man who prefers to be out on the battlefield with his men, even if he does consistently butt heads with Fenix.
The website SciFied recommended Avatar and Don't Breathe's Stephen Lang for the role, citing the actor's performance in the former film as suitable evidence of his ability.
Queen Myrrah: Tilda Swinton
The ethereal Tilda Swinton knows how to make her character seem like the biggest person in the room, even if that room is filled with names like Cena and Crews.
Queen Myrrah created the Locust Horde and serves as Gears of War 3's primary antagonist. Swinton could make cameo appearances in a first film before getting fleshed out in later installments. She would have at least one scene with Adam Fenix and seeing Swinton share the screen with Cox would be a lot of fun and could even result in Gears being one of Swinton's best movies.
Marcus Fenix: Joe Manganiello
Once again, WhatCulture suggested Zack Snyder's Justice League star Joe Manganiello for the lead role of the younger Fenix, an experienced war hero, and a natural-born leader.
The site went on to defend its choice based on Manganiello's war-torn and hulking appearance as well as Fenix's intermittently-displayed compassion. Fenix was there on Emergence Day when the apocalyptic war first started and fought with Lancer in hand for a decade. He gets incarcerated for what is supposed to be 40 years, all for going to rescue his father. But then the COG army needs Fenix and Santiago, so they're released, and thus begins the movie. Fenix has one of the best arcs throughout the series, so there would be a lot of meat for Manganiello to chew on in the part.