The live-action adaptation of classic side-scrolling fighting game Streets Of Rage is back on.
Back in 2022, it was announced that John Wick creator Derek Kolstad had written a script for a Streets Of Rage movie that was set to be produced by Lionsgate. After years of silence though, it’s been confirmed that Kolstad has left the project.
Lionsgate are still moving ahead with the Streets Of Rage movie though. Yesterday (June 1) it was announced (via Variety) that the writers of the Sonic The Hedgehog movies Pat Casey and Josh Miller will be creating the script for Streets Of Rage. Jeymes Samuel (The Harder They Fall, The Book Of Clarence) will direct.
The Streets Of Rage movie will lean “heavily into the cult classic game known for its iconic characters, acclaimed electronic soundtracks and beat ’em up action,” reads a press release.
Developed by Sega, the original Streets Of Rage first launched in 1991 and focuses on three former police officers called Axel Stone, Blaze Fielding and Adam Hunter going up against evil mastermind Mr. X. Two sequels followed in 1992 and 1994 while a fourth Streets Of Rage game was released in 2021. Streets of Rage: Revolution was announced in 2023 but still doesn’t have a release date.
“We and our partners at Sega knew that Streets Of Rage demanded a bold filmmaker,” Lionsgate film chief Erin Westerman said in a statement. “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. We are so excited for how he will bring his own memorable take to this beloved video game IP.”
The movie will be produced by Story Kitchen, who are involved with a number of video game adaptations including Tomb Raider, Life Is Strange and It Takes Two.
In other news, the soundtrack to Mario Kart World is finally available to stream, almost a year after the hit Nintendo Switch 2 launch title was first released.