The next video game from the past to be revived with an all-new movie adaptation will beStreets of Rage. PerDeadline, a feature film based on the side-scrolling beat-em-up video game is now in the works with a spec script written by Derek Kolstad, the creator of theJohn Wickfranchise who served as a writer on the first three films in the action movie series. Kolstad also wrote last year’sNobody, which starred Bob Odenkirk as an action hero. Producing theStreets of Ragefilm will be dj2 Entertainment (Sonic the Hedgehog) and Escape Artists (The Equalizer).
LikeSonic the Hedgehog,Streets of Ragewas also originally developed by SEGA and first published on the company’s Genesis console in 1991. Its simplistic story follows a group of vigilantes fighting their way through a city filled with violent criminals in pursuit of a dastardly mob boss. Multiple sequels followed on the SEGA Genesis, with the revival sequelStreets of Rage 4releasing in 2020 on modern gaming consoles.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2setting the new record at the box office for a video game adaptation’s opening seems to be resulting in progress made on other planned video game movies. It was just recently announced that Jason Momoa would star in a live-actionMinecraftmovie byNapoleon Dynamitedirector Jared Hess.John Wickdirector Chad Stahelski is also working on aGhost of Tsushimavideo game movie with writer Takashi Doscher.
Several morevideo gameadaptations are also already on the way. Later this year will see the release of an animatedSuper Mario Bros.movie, which, if successful, could lead to other Nintendo titles getting the big-screen treatment. High-profile shows based onThe Last of UsandTwisted Metalare also in development, as are upcoming movies based on games likeBorderlands,Metal Gear Solid, andSplinter Cell.
Related:Sonic the Hedgehog 2’s Colleen O’Shaughnessey Talks Taking Tails to the Big Screen
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Is Launching a New Cinematic Universe
There are plans to do much more withSonic the Hedgehogafter the second film found so much success. Another movie is in early development, while a separate spinoff series following Idris Elba’s Knuckles is also in the works at Paramount+, all part of the studio’s plan to make aSoniccinematic universe. The continued success of this franchise will likely inspire more and more other video game adaptations to be developed as well.
“[Sonic1] was a great experience for us as filmmakers, and as movie lovers,“Sonic the Hedgehog 2producer Neal H. Moritz explained, perEuroGamer. “Now, we’re even more excited to expand that world, adding new characters, bigger worlds, a new, incredible journey, and more action and adventure. There are so many places we can go with Sonic.”
There is no word yet on when theStreets of Ragemovie might be making its way to theaters as the project is still early into development. Meanwhile,Sonic the Hedgehog 2is currently playing in theaters.
