Sega's iconic arcade racing game, OutRun, is set to hit the big screen in a surprising movie adaptation, with renowned director Michael Bay and actress Sydney Sweeney on board. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Universal Pictures has tapped Bay, known for directing the Transformers series, to both direct and produce the OutRun movie. Sweeney, celebrated for her roles in various hit shows and films, is also attached as a producer. The screenplay will be penned by Jayson Rothwell, though details about the plot remain under wraps, and no release date has been announced yet.
On the Sega front, Toru Nakahara, who played a key role in the Sonic movies, will serve as a producer for the OutRun film. Additionally, Sega America and Europe CEO Shuji Utsumi will be overseeing the project. OutRun, which first raced into arcades in 1986, was crafted by the legendary Sega developer Yu Suzuki. Known for its impressive graphics at the time, the game has seen various versions and ports over the years. Its most recent iteration was Sumo Digital's OutRun Online Arcade in 2009, although a proper sequel was released in 2003. The franchise has been relatively quiet since.
Sega has been actively revisiting its extensive library, with new titles in the works for popular franchises such as Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, Golden Axe, Virtua Fighter, and Shinobi. Moreover, Sega has been keen on adapting its intellectual properties into various media. The Sonic movies have proven to be a massive success, and an adaptation of Like a Dragon: Yakuza was released on Amazon last year. The trend of video game adaptations continues to surge in Hollywood, with films like The Super Mario Bros. Movie and the recently released A Minecraft Movie setting new benchmarks at the box office.
As for the OutRun movie, speculation abounds on its direction. Given Michael Bay's penchant for high-octane action and Sydney Sweeney's involvement, many are wondering if the film might emulate the adrenaline-pumping style of the Fast & Furious series.
