The Streets of Rage movie, based on Sega‘s hit video game series, has found its director. The film was originally announced by Lionsgate back in November 2022.
Who is directing the Streets of Rage movie?
Acclaimed filmmaker Jeymes Samuel will direct the live-action Streets of Rage movie. He’s known for directing films such as the BAFTA Award-winning The Harder They Fall and The Book of Clarence.
Interestingly, Sonic the Hedgehog movie writers Pat Casey and Josh Miller are also working on the project. It has Toru Nakahara, Story Kitchen’s Dmitri M. Johnson, and Michael Lawrence Goldberg as the producers. Additionally, Timothy I. Stevenson, Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Tony Shaw, and Derek Kolstad will also serve as producers. Casey and Miller are executive producing alongside Elena Sandoval.
Reacting to Samuel’s hiring as the director, Lionsgate film chief Erin Westerman said, “We and our partners at SEGA knew that Streets of Rage demanded a bold filmmaker. 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.”
She added, “We are so excited for how he will bring his own memorable take to this beloved video game IP.”
Speaking of Streets of Rage, the action video game franchise began in the 90s and has gained a large fan following over the years. The series found even more popularity upon the release of the fourth main installment in 2020. In its first year after launch, the game sold over 2.5 million copies while also receiving mostly positive reviews. Some of the popular characters from the series include Axel Stone, Blaze Fielding, Adam Hunter, and many more.
With Streets of Rage, Sega is continuing the streak of adapting its classic games for the screen. The success of the Sonic the Hedgehog trilogy might be the biggest reason why the company is doubling down on video game-based adaptations moving forward. Sonic the Hedgehog movies have grossed more than $1 billion worldwide to date. The franchise is set to expand even further with a fourth movie.
The Streets of Rage movie has yet to receive an official release date window.
