Sega's classic arcade racing game, OutRun, is set to hit the big screen in an unexpected movie adaptation, with renowned director Michael Bay and actress Sydney Sweeney attached to the project. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Universal Pictures has enlisted Bay, known for his work on the Transformers franchise, to direct and produce the film. Sweeney, who has been making waves in Hollywood, will also serve as a producer. The screenplay will be penned by Jayson Rothwell, though plot details remain under wraps, and no release date has been announced yet.
On the Sega front, Toru Nakahara, who contributed to the successful Sonic movies, will be a producer for the OutRun film. Additionally, Sega America and Europe CEO Shuji Utsumi will oversee the project, ensuring the adaptation stays true to the beloved franchise. OutRun, originally launched in 1986, was created by the legendary Sega developer Yu Suzuki and has since seen numerous versions and ports. While a proper sequel was released in 2003, the series has been relatively quiet, with the last release being Sumo Digital's OutRun Online Arcade in 2009.
Sega has been actively revisiting its extensive back catalog, with new titles in the works for Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, Golden Axe, Virtua Fighter, and Shinobi. Alongside these gaming projects, Sega has been pushing forward with adaptations of its intellectual properties. The Sonic movies have been a massive hit, and last year saw the launch of Like a Dragon: Yakuza on Amazon. The demand for video game adaptations is soaring, as evidenced by the success of films like The Super Mario Bros. Movie and the recent A Minecraft Movie, which have both broken box office records.
As for the OutRun movie, fans might be anticipating a thrilling, high-octane driving and action film in the vein of the Fast & Furious series, given the involvement of Michael Bay and Sydney Sweeney.
