Streets of Rage is the latest beneficiary of the video game movie gold rush.
After years of development limbo, the adaptation of the classic SEGA arcade beat-'em-up has enlisted Sonic the Hedgehog writers Pat Casey and Josh Miller to pen the script, following on from John Wick creator Derek Kolstad departing the project (via Variety).
Excitingly, they have a fantastic director jumping onboard too – Jeymes Samuel, the creative mind behind The Harder They Fall, the Idris Elba-starring western that was criminally underappreciated upon its release on Netflix in 2021.
In a statement, Lionsgate film boss Erin Westerman talked up Samuel as a great fit for Streets of Rage.
“We and our partners at Sega knew that Streets of Rage demanded a bold filmmaker. 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."
Streets of Rage exploded onto the scene in the early 1990s, gobbling up quarters with its fast-paced, side-scrolling combat as Axel, Blaze, and Adam took to the streets to fight an increasingly fearsome lineup of criminal gangs and bruising bad guys.
After a warmly-received trilogy, the series went on hiatus for over 25 years before 2020's Streets of Rage 4 – an entry that helped launch a cottage industry of arcade revivals across the next few years.
Streets of Rage is currently undated. For more, check out the many upcoming video game movies currently in the works.
