Warner Bros. and Sony are waging their own battle for the rights to "The Forever War," an adaptation Joe Haldeman's popular sci fi novel of the same name, Deadline reports.

Starring Channing Tatum, the film will tell the tale of soldiers who wage an endless war despite not knowing why they fight. The novel, a Vietnam War allegory, produced two sequels and won multiple awards. Jon Spaihts ("Prometheus," "Doctor Strange") is writing the screenplay.

According to the website, some sources contend Warner Bros. is speeding through final talks to cinch the film, while others say the ball is in Sony's court because Tatum's production company is based there. The project is viewed by both as a potential franchise with enough notability to draw an A-list director.  Richard Edlund and Roy Lee are attached as producers.

Ridley Scott was initially on board to direct the film for Fox, but production fell through after seven years. More recently, it landed at Tatum’s Free Association and Roy Lee’s Vertigo Entertainment. As Tatum is based at Sony and Vertigo is at Warner Bros., both studios have a stake in the claim.