Sega's iconic arcade racing game, OutRun, is gearing up for an unexpected leap to the big screen, with renowned director Michael Bay and actress Sydney Sweeney attached to the project. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Universal Pictures has enlisted Bay, famous for his work on the Transformers franchise, to helm and produce the OutRun movie. Sweeney, known for her acting prowess, will also take on a producer role. The screenplay is being 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 contributed to the successful Sonic movies, is set to produce, while Sega America and Europe CEO Shuji Utsumi will oversee the film's development. Originally launched in 1986, OutRun was a groundbreaking arcade driving game crafted by Sega legend Yu Suzuki. Over the years, it has seen various versions and ports, with its latest iteration, OutRun Online Arcade, released by Sumo Digital in 2009. Although the series has been relatively quiet since then, Sega has been actively mining its extensive back catalog for new projects, including upcoming games like Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, Golden Axe, Virtua Fighter, and Shinobi.
Sega's foray into film adaptations continues to grow, with the Sonic movies enjoying massive success and the recent release of Like a Dragon: Yakuza on Amazon. The appetite for video game movies in Hollywood is evident, with blockbusters like The Super Mario Bros. Movie and A Minecraft Movie setting new benchmarks. As for the OutRun movie, fans might be anticipating a thrilling, Fast & Furious-style action and driving spectacle, given Bay and Sweeney's involvement.
