UPDATE: After years of silence, Lionsgate’s long-gestating adaptation of Sega’s legendary beat-’em-up franchise Streets of Rage is showing signs of life again.
The studio has reportedly brought in Sonic the Hedgehog screenwriters Pat Casey and Josh Miller (Violent Night) to pen the latest draft of the film, while filmmaker Jeymes Samuel is attached to direct. The project was originally announced several years ago, with John Wick creator Derek Kolstad developing the screenplay, but updates on the adaptation had been scarce until now.
Casey and Miller are no strangers to video game adaptations. The writing duo helped turn Sega’s Sonic the Hedgehog franchise into one of Hollywood’s biggest gaming success stories, with multiple hit films that resonated with both longtime fans and mainstream audiences. Their involvement suggests Lionsgate is looking for a creative team with proven experience translating beloved gaming properties to the big screen.
Samuel, best known for directing the acclaimed western The Harder They Fall, will now take the reins of the adaptation. While story details remain under wraps, the film is expected to draw inspiration from the iconic side-scrolling brawler series that debuted in the early 1990s and became one of Sega’s defining franchises.
With Hollywood continuing its push into video game adaptations following the success of franchises like Sonic the Hedgehog, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and Fallout, Lionsgate appears ready to give Sega’s street-fighting classic another shot at reaching the big screen. Whether the film can capture the neon-soaked action and gritty energy that made the games fan favorites remains to be seen, but for the first time in years, Streets of Rage is finally moving forward again.
SOURCE: Variety
UPDATE: The live-action adaptation of Streets of Rage has been picked up by Lionsgate. Derek Kolstad is producing alongside Sega’s Toru Nakahara, dj2 Entertainment’s Dmitri M. Johnson, Timothy I. Stevenson, and Dan Jevons, and Escape Artists Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, and Tony Shaw.
“When Dmitri first mentioned the idea of cracking a Streets of Rage movie, I was so immediately freaking in. And to play with Sega? The ten year-old me is still grinning,” said Kolstad.
“The game has a rich world and narrative and we’re thrilled to be reuniting with Derek to bring it to life,” added Erin Westerman, President of Production, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group.
SOURCE: Comicbook
With the success of the Sonic the Hedgehog films, it is to no surprise that Sega is developing their next live-action adaptation. The classic beat-em-up video game Streets of Rage is getting the live-action treatment from John Wick creator Derek Kolstad (Nobody), who will pen the script.
Sonic producer dj2 Entertainment and Escape Artists (Equalizer franchise) will produce the project. For those unfamiliar with the game, it follows ex-police vigilantes trying to rid a fictional, large American city from a crime syndicate that has corrupted its local government.
Stay tuned as we learn more.
SOURCE: Deadline
