Sega's iconic arcade racing game, OutRun, is set to make a thrilling transition to the big screen, with blockbuster director Michael Bay and acclaimed actress Sydney Sweeney attached to the project. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Universal Pictures has enlisted Bay, known for his work on the Transformers series, to both direct and produce the OutRun movie. Sweeney, who has been making waves in Hollywood, will also serve as a producer. The screenplay is being penned by Jayson Rothwell, although details about the plot remain under wraps, and no release date has been announced yet.
On the Sega side, the project will be overseen by Toru Nakahara, a producer who previously worked on the successful Sonic movies, and Shuji Utsumi, CEO of Sega America and Europe. OutRun, which first captivated gamers in 1986 with its stunning graphics and gameplay designed by Sega legend Yu Suzuki, has seen numerous iterations and ports over the years. Its most recent release was in 2009 with Sumo Digital's OutRun Online Arcade. While the franchise has been relatively quiet in recent times, Sega is actively revisiting its rich catalog, with new titles like Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, Golden Axe, Virtua Fighter, and Shinobi currently in development.
Sega has also been successful in adapting its intellectual properties into other media. The Sonic movies have been a massive hit, and the Like a Dragon: Yakuza series found a new audience with its Amazon adaptation last year. The appetite for video game movies is stronger than ever, as evidenced by the record-breaking success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie and the recently released A Minecraft Movie.
As for the OutRun film, fans might be curious about what direction Bay and Sweeney will take. Given Bay's flair for high-octane action and Sweeney's rising star power, there's speculation that the movie could channel the adrenaline-fueled spirit of the Fast & Furious franchise, delivering a driving and action-packed cinematic experience.
