SEGA’s Upcoming Streets of Rage Film Finds New Writers and Director

According to Variety, the upcoming Streets of Rage film adaptation from Lionsgate is still moving forward, and it has now assembled a new creative team. According to reports, Sonic the Hedgehog film writers Pat Casey and Josh Miller have joined the project as the movie’s new screenwriters, while acclaimed filmmaker Jeymes Samuel (The Harder They Fall, The Book of Clarence) has signed on to direct.

The project was originally announced in 2022 when Lionsgate acquired the rights to adapt SEGA’s legendary beat-’em-up franchise. At the time, John Wick creator Derek Kolstad was attached to write the screenplay. While Kolstad exited the project, Casey and Miller have now taken over writing duties for the latest draft.

While plot details remain under wraps, the adaptation is said to lean heavily into the elements that made the original games so memorable, including the series’ iconic cast of characters, pulse-pounding electronic soundtracks, and classic side-scrolling beat-’em-up action.

Find out more about the upcoming film by hitting the jump!

For longtime SEGA fans, Casey and Miller’s involvement is particularly noteworthy. The duo helped bring Sonic the Hedgehog successfully to the big screen, with the Sonic film trilogy surpassing $1 billion at the worldwide box office. Their work has been praised for balancing fan service with broad audience appeal, something that could prove valuable when adapting another beloved SEGA franchise.

Meanwhile, director Jeymes Samuel wrote, directed and produced the BAFTA winner “The Harder They Fall” and wrote and directed “The Book of Clarence”.

“We and our partners at Sega knew that Streets of Rage demanded a bold filmmaker,” said Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chair Erin Westerman. “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.”

Originally launched on the SEGA Genesis in 1991, Streets of Rage became one of SEGA’s defining franchises of the 1990s. Known for its cooperative gameplay and legendary soundtracks composed by Yuzo Koshiro and Motohiro Kawashima, the series remains one of the most beloved beat-’em-up franchises in gaming history. The franchise made a triumphant return in 2020 with Streets of Rage 4, which sold over 2.5 million copies and introduced the series to a new generation of players.

The film will be produced by SEGA’s Toru Nakahara alongside Story Kitchen’s Dmitri M. Johnson, Mike Goldberg, and Timothy I. Stevenson. Additional producers include Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, and Tony Shaw of Escape Artists. Casey and Miller will also serve as executive producers on the project.

No release date has been announced at this time.

What do you think about Pat Casey and Josh Miller taking over writing duties? Are you excited to see Jeymes Samuel’s vision for Streets of Rage? Let us know in the comments below!