The film adaptation of Sega’s iconic “Streets of Rage” video game is alive and well at Lionsgate, with new screenwriters Pat Casey and Josh Miller, the masterminds behind Paramount Pictures’ “Sonic the Hedgehog” film series.
In addition to the “Sonic” duo, “The Harder They Fall” filmmaker James Samuel has joined the project as director.
Casey and Miller are joining Streets of Rage after Lionsgate first acquired the rights in 2022, along with Sonic the Hedgehog and Amazon’s Life is Strange TV series producer Story Kitchen (formerly DJ2 Entertainment), following the departure of Derek Kolstad, who had written an early draft of the script.
Plot details are being kept under wraps, but the Streets of Rage movie is described as “leaning heavily into the cult classic game known for its iconic characters, acclaimed electronic soundtrack, and fighting action.”
Beloved for its fighting game gameplay and influential music choices, Streets of Rage was one of the most popular video game series of the 1990s and remained a top-selling title for decades. The series released its fourth game in 2020, selling over 2.5 million copies in its first year and reaching number 20 on the US download chart and number 14 on the UK sales chart.
Casey and Miller, best known for the Universal franchise Violent Night starring David Harbour, along with Sega and Paramount Pictures’ Sonic the Hedgehog trilogy, which have grossed more than $1 billion worldwide to date, are currently writing the horror-comedy feature Dead Drunk for producer Graham King’s GK Films.
Samuel wrote, directed and produced the BAFTA-winning film The Harder They Fall and also wrote and directed The Book of Clarence.
“We and our partners at Sega knew that Streets of Rage needed a bold filmmaker,” said Erin Westerman, head of film at Lionsgate. “James Samuel’s intuitive, explosive style, not to mention his signature use of haunting music, is perfect for viewers both familiar with the series and those new to it. We’re so excited to see how he brings his own memorable take on this beloved video game IP.”
Streets of Rage is produced by Sega’s Toru Nakahara, Story Kitchen’s Dmitri M. Johnson, Michael Lawrence Goldberg, Timothy I. Stevenson, Escape Artist’s Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Tony Shaw, and Kolstad. Casey and Miller will serve as executive producers. Elena Sandoval is an EP from Story Kitchen.
James Myers and Pavan Kalidindi will oversee the project for Lionsgate. Shuji Utsumi and Nakahara are the directors for Sega. Johnson is the director of Story Kitchen. The show is directed by Escape Artist.
Samuel is repped by CAA and Johnson, Shapiro, Slewett & Cole. Casey and Miller are repped by CAA, Gotham Group and Vanderkloot Law. Story Kitchen is repped by WME and Pryor Cashman.
The deal was negotiated by Lionsgate’s Phil Strina.
