The Los Angeles Times reports that New Line has scaled back on its film adaptation of the popular videogame GEARS OF WAR. Len Wiseman, who was set to direct, is now focusing on Fox's apocalyptic thriller NOCTURINE instead.

GEARS storyline follows a group of soldiers set on a mission to protect the planet Sera from the Locust Horde. WANTED scribe Chris Morgan penned the script with some character punch up from Billy Ray (STATE OF PLAY). Insiders say the original script had an epic scale, but now New Line is looking for a writer to pear it down to a simple invasion story.

New Line has also cut the budget from its original $100 million.