Sega announced on the 22nd that it is teaming up with Universal Pictures to develop a live-action film based on its iconic arcade racing game, OutRun. Directing the project is none other than Michael Bay, best known for his work on the Transformers series and Ambulance.

OutRun, originally released in arcades during the 1980s, became a global sensation for its innovative gameplay that combined high-speed driving with scenic backgrounds. The game's stylish mechanics not only carved out a new genre within racing games but also influenced electronic music, giving rise to the subgenre known as “Outrun.” Over the years, the title has seen numerous adaptations for home consoles, becoming one of Sega’s most globally recognized and beloved franchises.

Bay will also produce the film alongside Brad Fuller from his production company, Platinum Dunes. The screenplay is being written by Jason Rothwell, known for Polar. Other producers include Sydney Sweeney (*Anyone But You*, *Immaculate*), Sega’s Toru Nakahara, and executive producer Shuji Utsumi, also from Sega.

Universal Pictures is positioning this project as the next in a string of successful video game-based films following *The Super Mario Bros. Movie* (2023), which grossed $1.4 billion worldwide, and *Five Nights at Freddy’s*, which earned $290 million globally.

About Michael Bay

Michael Bay launched his directing career at the young age of 23 and rose to prominence by 25 as a commercial director. He won the Cannes Lions Grand Prix for the “Got Milk?/Aaron Burr” commercial, which is often cited as one of the top 10 commercials of all time. Some of his commercial work is even housed in the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Bay made his feature film debut with Bad Boys (1995), followed by a series of box office hits including The Rock (1996), Armageddon (1998), Pearl Harbor (2001), Bad Boys II (2003), and five Transformers films. He is now ranked among the top-grossing directors worldwide.

His first streaming release, Netflix and Skydance’s 6 Underground (2019), was viewed by 83 million households within four weeks of its release. His follow-up film, Ambulance (2022), distributed by Universal Pictures and Endeavor Content, also found success on streaming platforms.

Source : ORICON NEWS