Sega and Lionsgate have announced that their long-in-development Streets of Rage movie has just picked up Jeymes Samuel as director and Pat Casey and Josh Miller as writers.
The two companies announced the update to their creative crew today. It’s a move that will see the latest video game movie adaptation directed by the filmmaker behind The Harder They Fall, while the live-action Sonic the Hedgehog trilogy scribes board as writers.
“We and our partners at Sega knew that Streets of Rage demanded a bold filmmaker,” Lionsgate president Erin Westerman said in a statement. “Jeymes Samuel’s visceral and explosive style — not to mention his signature use of unforgettable music — is perfect for audiences both familiar with and new to the series. We are so excited for how he will bring his own memorable take to this beloved video game IP.”
Sega announced its intention to bring Streets of Rage to the big screen 10 years ago this December. Getting the project into the streets, however, hasn’t been so simple.
Updates for the movie have been few and far between in the years since. In 2022, it was announced that John Wick creator Derek Kolstad had boarded the project to write its script, with Lionsgate acquiring it later that same year. Kolstad wrote an early draft of the screenplay and is still attached as a producer.
Plot details, casting information, and a release date remain a mystery while the Streets of Rage movie comes together. However, Lionsgate and Sega did mention the project “will lean heavily into the cult classic game known for its iconic characters, acclaimed electronic soundtracks and beat ’em up action.”
In addition to The Harder They Fall, Samuel has directed The Book of Clarence and They Die by Dawn. Casey and Miller are also responsible for writing 2022’s Violent Night and a few episodes of the 2016 mini-series 12 Deadly Days.
Producers include Sega’s Toru Nakahara and Story Kitchen’s Dmitri M. Johnson, Michael Lawrence Goldberg, and Timothy I. Stevenson. Escape Artists’ Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, and Tony Shaw are also attached as producers, with Story Kitchen’s Elena Sandoval in the mix as an executive producer. Casey and Miller are also executive producing.
Sega showed interest in Streets of Rage, as well as a few of its other retro franchises, as part of its Sega Universe initiative in April. For more, you can read our 7/10 Streets of Rage 4 review.
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
