EXCLUSIVE: With Minecraft owning the box office over the past month and HBO’s hit series The Last Of Us returning with a bang, Universal is looking to add another video game adaptation to its slate with the help of two very big superstars. Sources tell Deadline Universal Pictures is developing a feature adaptation of Sega’s iconic arcade driving video game OutRun with Michael Bay attached to direct and Sydney Sweeney aboard to produce. Jayson Rothwell will pen the script.
Bay will also produce alongside partner Brad Fuller through their Platinum Dunes’ banner, which has a first look deal with the studio. The project is in development, and as of right now, Sweeney is only on board to produce. Toru Nakahara (Sonic the Hedgehog 1~3, Knuckles, Golden Axe) will also produce for SEGA and Shuji Utsumi (President/COO of Sega Corporation) will oversee the project on behalf of Sega.
Plot details on what the film will be about are vague. Sega’s OutRun series is a franchise that originated from some of the most successful arcade games in the world during the 1980s. The game pioneered a new genre of driving games and spawned an entire electronic music subgenre aptly called “OutRun.” This unique approach made it a worldwide hit. Since then, numerous series installments have been released, including home console versions, and it continues to be one of Sega’s flagship franchises.
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While the industry is having a moment with video game adaptations, Universal is no stranger to adapting hit video games into hit movies. OutRun follows Universal Pictures’ video game adaptation success with The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Five Nights at Freddy’s, which grossed over $1.4B and $290M respectively in the global box office.
Sweeney may be one of the towns busier stars on the acting front but over the past year she has also gotten very active on the producing front as well. She recently produced and starred in her Neon horror pic Immaculate and is also a producer on the Christy Martin biopic in which she also stars.
Bay, Fuller and Platinum Dunes have also been busy over the past year which has included a new a Quiet Place movie, A Quiet Place: Day One. They also recently produced the thriller Drop alongside Blumhouse.
Rothwell’s recent credits include Polar and Arachnid.
Bay is represented by Range Media Partners. Sweeney is represented by Paradigm and Stewart Brookman at Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, et al. Rothwell is represented by Cliff Roberts at Syndicate Entertainment, and Austin Williams at Sloan Offer Weber & Dern.
The post Michael Bay And Sydney Sweeney Team On Adaptation Of Popular Video Game ‘OutRun’ At Universal appeared first on Deadline.
