Report: Gears of War Movie Scaled Back; Budget Cut

The LA Times is reporting that the Gears of War movie, based on the hit game from Epic and Microsoft, is being scaled back in both scope and budget.

Epic's Gears of War 2

Citing sources within New Line, the LA Times says that work on the project "has really slowed down." The director, Lee Wiseman ("Live Free or Die Hard", "Underworld"), is also moving on to another project.

The studio has now cut the budget, going from a film that would have cost more than $100 million to one that will cost a good chunk less than that. It's also reined in the story, turning it into a more simple, straight-ahead invasion story instead of a sprawling epic.

Additionally, sources claim that the project will need a new writer and possibly a new director if it ever comes to fruition. On the video game side of the coin, Epic's Cliff Bleszinksi is set to unveil a new game on Jimmy Fallon's show in two days, which is rumored to be Gears of War 3.