The team behind the hit Sonic the Hedgehog films is taking on another video game project, this time tied to a cult classic from the 1990s. Writers Pat Casey and Josh Miller have signed on to write the script for a Streets of Rage movie for Lionsgate, according to Variety. The move comes after the success of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, which overcame early backlash and grew into one of the most profitable video game film series.
Casey and Miller wrote all three Sonic the Hedgehog films and are currently working on a fourth. They are replacing Derek Kolstad, known for John Wick and Nobody, who wrote an earlier draft of the script. Kolstad will stay on the project as a producer. Lionsgate first secured the rights to Streets of Rage in 2022, along with projects tied to Sonic the Hedgehog and the upcoming Life is Strange series.
The film now has a director in Jeymes Samuel, known for The Harder They Fall and The Book of Clarence. Lionsgate film chief Erin Westerman praised Samuel’s style and said it fits the tone of the game. She said the studio wanted a bold filmmaker who could match the energy of the source material and bring in both longtime fans and new audiences.
Streets of Rage first launched in 1991 and built a strong following with its side scrolling action. The latest entry, Streets of Rage 4, released in 2020 and introduced the series to a new generation. The story centers on former police officers who leave a corrupt force to fight crime on their own terms. Characters like Axel, Blaze, and Adam are expected to appear if the film follows the original storyline. The villain Mr. X, who leads a powerful crime syndicate, is likely to play a central role.
Details about the plot remain limited, but the creative team has said the film will lean into the game’s characters, music, and action. Casey and Miller are also working on Violent Night 2, following their work on the first film, which starred David Harbour as a violent version of Santa Claus.
The Streets of Rage movie is still in early development. More details are expected as production moves forward, but the project highlights Hollywood’s continued push to turn video games into major film franchises, a trend that carries both financial promise and cultural impact.
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English (US) · 