Sega’s arcade racing game OutRun is set for a surprise movie adaptation, with Michael Bay and Sydney Sweeney attached.
The Hollywood Reporter said that Universal Pictures has Transformers director Bay lined up to direct and produce the OutRun movie, with Sweeney also signed on as a producer. Jayson Rothwell will write the screenplay, although there are no plot details yet. Nor is there a release date.
On the Sega side, Toru Nakahara, who worked on the Sonic movies, is a producer, and Sega America and Europe CEO Shuji Utsumi will oversee the film.
OutRun began life in 1986 as a graphically impressive arcade driving game designed by Sega developer legend Yu Suzuki. It’s seen numerous versions and ports over the years, with a proper sequel released in 2003, but has been somewhat dormant in recent times. The most recent release came in 2009 with Sumo Digital’s OutRun Online Arcade.
Sega, however, has dipped into its back catalogue for inspiration, with new Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, Golden Axe, Virtua Fighter, and Shinobi games all in the works.
Sega has also pushed adaptations of its coveted IP. The Sonic movies are of course hugely popular, and an adaptation of Like a Dragon: Yakuza launched last year on Amazon. Hollywood is keen for more video game films, with The Super Mario Bros. Movie and the recently released A Minecraft Movie breaking records.
As for what sort of film OutRun will be, perhaps Bay and Sweeney invisage a Fast & Furious-style driving and action flick.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at [email protected].
