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Unexpected Sega Classic is Getting a Movie Adaptation

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On April 22, 2025

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Summary

OutRun is a classic Sega arcade game that debuted in 1986, with the franchise’s last mainline entry dating all the way back to 2009.
Sega is developing a live-action OutRun movie with Michael Bay directing and Sydney Sweeney producing.
The script for the OutRun movie adaptation will be written by Jayson Rothwell, who served as writer for Polar and Arachnid.

A long-dormant Sega arcade classic is officially making its way to the big screen, with major Hollywood names like Michael Bay and Sydney Sweeney attached to the adaptation. Sega is partnering with Universal Pictures to develop a movie based on OutRun, one of the Japanese gaming giant’s most iconic, albeit inactive, racing franchises.

In recent years, Sega has been investing heavily to expand its most popular franchises beyond gaming. The Sonic the Hedgehog movie trilogy has been a major success since its 2020 debut, with it even having spawned a Knuckles spin-off miniseries. A fourth Sonic movie is on the way, and Sega also adapted the Like a Dragon: Yakuza franchise into a TV series that premiered last year on Prime Video. Additionally, live-action projects for iconic Sega franchises like Streets of Rage, Crazy Taxi, and Shinobi are on the way, and another one has just joined the list.

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A recent report from Deadline has revealed that Sega is adapting OutRun into a live-action movie, which will be directed by Michael Bay, best known for explosive action blockbusters like Transformers, Bad Boys, and the Armageddon series. The script for the Outrun movie will be penned by Jayson Rothwell of Polar and Arachnid fame, while prominent Euphoria and The White Lotus actress Sydney Sweeney is attached as a producer. At Sega’s end, the live-action Outrun movie will be shepherded by senior executive officer Toru Nakahara, who produced the Sonic the Hedgehog films, and overseen by president and COO Shuji Utsumi. The film will be developed by Universal Pictures, the studio behind the massively successful Super Mario Bros. Movie and Five Nights at Freddy’s film adaptations.

OutRun Movie Adaptation to Be Directed by Michael Bay and Produced by Sydney Sweeney

OutRun (originally dubbed Out Run) first debuted on arcade systems in 1986 and holds a special place in Sega’s history. Conceived by legendary Sega game designer Yu Suzuki, OutRun was groundbreaking at the time for its advanced graphics, smooth gameplay controls, and high-octane soundtrack. Later on, OutRun made its way to platforms like the Sega Master System, Genesis, Saturn, Atari ST, Commodore 64, Nintendo 3DS, PC, and more. The last entry in the franchise was 2009’s OutRun: Online Arcade, which launched on Xbox 360 and PS3 and saw decent critical reception. By the end of 2011, though, Sega had delisted OutRun: Online Arcade from both platforms due to expiration of licenses.

With the OutRun series having gone without a new game release in over 16 years, its unexpected comeback in the film space could also hint at larger plans for the franchise. Sega has committed to reviving its legacy franchises, and many of its upcoming live-action projects, like Shinobi, Crazy Taxi, and Streets of Rage, are also receiving new game entries in the coming years. Whether OutRun will follow this trend, though, remains to be seen.