SEGA planning development of TV and film adaptations of video game properties

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Variety reports that SEGA has begun planning the development of classic and modern video game franchises for film and television. SEGA has tapped Break Media executive Evan Cholfin to lead the efforts at Tokyo-based Stories International, a joint venture between SEGA and Hakuhodo DY Group launched in 2011.

The first titles SEGA plans to move forward with are “Altered Beast,” “Streets of Rage,” “Shinobi,” “Rise of Nightmares” and “Crazy Taxi”. Plans are for English-language live action and animated spinoffs. “Virtua Fighter” and “Golden Axe” are also being considered.

SEGA also has a minority investment in All Nippon Entertainment Works through a stock deal. The deal with ANEW will help the Stories group expand its efforts by gaining access to twenty Japanese rights holders with connections to films, TV shows, books, toys and manga.

With the news of a joint venture with Sony Pictures to produce a Sonic the Hedgehog movie, SEGA will have a big presence in Hollywood in the coming years! In the comments, let us know which confirmed franchise you’re most looking forward to.

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16 responses to “SEGA planning development of TV and film adaptations of video game properties

  1. Sharky says:

    Man this could be so awesome… Or so terrible. I hope Sega makes wise decisions on the style of these films and who gets to direct!

    For me…
    Panzer Dragood, Skies of Arcadia, Jet Set Radio and Shinobi could all be so awesome!

  2. Aki-at says:

    As animated television series I would watch all of these. As a live action only Streets of Rage or Shinobi could work but I feel, with how colourful both games are, it would mostly work only as an animated series.

    Interesting times are coming for SEGA fans next year that’s for sure.

  3. I like to see if Virtua Fighter will become a Hollywood movie, how about that and Sonic Animated movie from Sony well will see.

  4. daniel says:

    make an anime of shinobi please no another sonic boom disaster

  5. Ben Burnham says:

    Nobody is going to know what any of these franchises’ are. Sega doesn’t seem to understand that you can’t just make movies about video games that haven’t seen a new installment in decades.

    • Bobbob says:

      So true. Somebody needs to bring the Execs at SEGA through a branding 101 workshop for properties outside of the Sonic series, because apparently, they have no clue.

    • SkyBlue says:

      Pretty much.

      As much as I’d love to see these, SEGA of today have no clue on how to make the franchises relevant now. This marketing should have been done in the Mega Drive era.

  6. Kori-Maru says:

    This is the best SEGA news of 2014! Now I have a purpose to purchase all the media once everything is out on Blu Ray in 1080p.

    Now all we need a is a good House of the Dead reboot.

  7. matty says:

    Would love to see a Rez film.

  8. David The Lurker says:

    Wasn’t Crazy Taxi supposed to have a movie years and years ago, but it never came to fruition?

    Waiting for Snail Maze: The Movie myself

  9. AdamDuffield says:

    No Jet Set Radio animated film??

  10. Monty says:

    My wishes have been answered! Thank you, SEGA!

  11. tasteofink says:

    streets of rage would be fun i always felt there was a good story to tell there (ya know in between the punching) or some kind of phantasy star movie, but i get the feeling wewill end up with some sort of hatsune miku anime or something

  12. Adam says:

    Maybe they should focus on making good games first.

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