While a Gears of War movie may never reach the big screen, a TV series could be one of the rare video game adaptations that delights fans and critics.

Gears of War is one of the most popular Xbox exclusive video games. The franchise has been around since 2006 and has a significant following of fans. Yet, similar to Halo, it has been notoriously difficult to develop any kind of live-action project based off the games. While there have been some successes with video game adaptations, like Sonic and Castlevania, there have been many more disappointing attempts. Gears of War could be the series that's finally a hit on both consoles and TV screens.

Gears of War takes place on a fictional Earth-like planet named Sera and features the constant struggle of the Coalition as the human force fights against the Locust, a monstrous species. Marcus Fenix is the central protagonist, a strong-willed soldier who leads his many comrades into countless dangers against the Locust. The series is ripe for adaptation and each character in the franchise would translate beautifully onto the small screen. While there was a Gears of War film in development since 2016, it's since been taken off the table, so why not pivot to a TV series?

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Gears of War is a stunning series. Its diverse group of enemies offer plenty of spectacle and the games are incredibly cinematic. With visceral finishers and gritty fights, scenes would be jaw-dropping to see in live action. The main characters -- Marcus, Dominic Santiago, Augustus Cole and Damon Baird -- are unique and interesting. Marcus is the typical hero archetype: bull-headed, determined and unbreakable. Dominic has one of the greatest arcs in gaming with a devastating twist that leaves him shattered. The pair of them are a duo that would easily be able to carry a TV series, with a deep friendship that is the perfect example of "brothers in arms."

While the Halo series was extremely controversial for its decision to abandon the plot of the games, Gears of War would be easier to adapt for TV because it has less of an expanded universe. While there are some additional materials beyond the games, its extras are nothing compared to the vastness of Halo. This makes it easier to bring the games to life because there is less story to try to make work within the series.

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A series could also create new characters, like Halo did. Gears of War is about an entire planet's fight for survival, so any series could focus on a different part of the war than previously depicted and only interact with game canon at crucial points. Much like how Sonic used the concepts of the games in the films, Gears of War could have its TV show exist alongside the games. Marcus Fenix and his squad could show up to help, but having them in a supporting role would allow for more creative freedom without making the same mistake as Halo.

In a world where studios seem to be grabbing up every existing property, it's amazing that Gears of War is relatively untouched. The games are masterpieces and a TV series would be able to do their story justice. The characters have rich stories, the enemies are visually interesting and the environment is gruesome and beautiful. The series is screaming for an adaptation and the franchise is simple enough that it may be able to break the stereotype of bad video game translations permanently.

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