Netflix is binge-producing video game adaptations faster than a certain Blue Blur can chow down a chilli dog. The streamer has just announced a new partnership with Sega to make another animated TV show based on Sonic the Hedgehog, as well as films adapting Crazy Taxi and the upcoming Stranger Than Heaven.
The multi-project deal supposedly begins with a feature-film adaptation of Crazy Taxi, Sega’s long-running series of whacky arcade racing games that’s being revived soon, penned by the screenwriting duo responsible for last year’s The Naked Gun reboot (Dan Gregor and Doug Mand). The producers behind the surprisingly good live-action Sonic films (Neal H. Moritz, Toby Ascher, and Sega’s Toru Nakahara) are also involved with this one, per Variety. No telling if it’ll be animated or live-action, though.
On the flip side, the Sonic Netflix series is set to be an animated romp that, according to Sega, is “high-voltage, comedic, yet emotionally grounded” and is “built for kids who want to feel a little edge, a little attitude, and a lot of ‘that’s my crew’ wish fulfillment.” Expect to see lots of the extended anthropomorphic Sonic family, then. Nakahara and animation director Carlos Stevens are attached.
And, finally, we have a film adaptation of Stranger Than Heaven also planned. RGG Studio’s crime-ridden action game isn’t due to come out until next year, 15 January, but Sega’s giving it the multimedia treatment early.
“Expect something cute yet cool for Sonic, hilariously crazy for Crazy Taxi and a badass action drama for Stranger Than Heaven, because we’ve got some amazing creative ideas lined up and we are just getting started,” Nakahara said in a statement to Variety.
Netflix has already scooped up the rights to plenty of big name video games (Castlevania, Cyberpunk, Devil May Cry, Arcane, more) and has plans to turn a bunch more into streamable hits (including Gears of War, Assassin’s Creed, Crash Bandicoot and – shudders – Persona).
