New Sega Film in Development from Sonic Writers and Hunger Games Team

It looks like Streets of Rage is gearing up for its cinematic debut. The long-awaited film adaptation has finally assembled its core team. Pat Casey and Josh Miller, the writers behind all three Sonic the Hedgehog films, will be crafting the screenplay. Jeymes Samuel, known for his acclaimed work on the western The Harder They Fall and the biblical comedy The Book of Clarence, will take the director’s chair.

“We and our partners at SEGA recognized that Streets of Rage needed a bold filmmaker,” said Erin Westerman, president of Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group. “Jeymes Samuel’s dynamic and explosive style, along with his knack for unforgettable music, is ideal for both longtime fans and newcomers to the series. We’re thrilled to see how he will put his unique spin on this beloved video game franchise.”

The production team includes SEGA’s Toru Nakahara, Dmitri M. Johnson from Story Kitchen, Michael Lawrence Goldberg, Timothy I. Stevenson, and Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, and Tony Shaw from Escape Artists. Derek Kolstad, known for his work on John Wick, who penned an earlier draft of the film announced four years ago, will also be involved in production.

Streets of Rage is a celebrated beat ’em up series that debuted on the Sega Genesis in 1991, following former police officers as they take on the notorious crime lord Mr. X. Beyond its engaging combat, the series is particularly recognized for its groundbreaking electronic dance soundtracks. It has seen three direct sequels, with the latest installment, Streets of Rage 4, arriving after a 25-year hiatus. This game received positive acclaim and sold over 2.5 million copies.

While video game film adaptations have historically struggled in Hollywood, recent successes have shifted the narrative. Despite mixed reviews, Five Nights At Freddy’s and A Minecraft Movie emerged as significant box office hits in their respective years. Additionally, the iconic rivalry between Mario and Sonic has translated well to the big screen, with the former raking in an impressive 2 billion across two films—placing it among the top ten highest-grossing film franchises ever—while the Sonic trilogy has surpassed 1 billion. As the film industry seeks fresh inspiration, the success of adaptations like The Backrooms, which turned a 4chan post into a profitable horror film, suggests that as long as these video game adaptations continue to thrive, more will likely be on the way.