Streets Of Rage Movie Brings On Writers Of Some Of The Most Popular Video Game Movies Ever
Sega and Lionsgate’s long-in-development Streets of Rage film adaptation has announced its creative leadership. Director Jeymes Samuel (The Harder They Fall, The Book of Clarence) will helm the project, bringing his signature “visceral and explosive style” and distinctive use of music to the beat ’em up franchise. Screenwriting duties have been assigned to Pat Casey and Josh Miller, the writing duo behind all three Sonic the Hedgehog films, which have collectively earned over $1.2 billion globally.
This marks a significant shift in the project’s direction. Derek Kolstad, known for creating the John Wick franchise, was previously attached as screenwriter but has been replaced. Lionsgate acquired the film rights to Streets of Rage in 2022. The production team also includes Dmitri Johnson, who contributed to the Sonic film series; Toru Nakahara; Michael Lawrence Goldberg; and Timothy I. Stevenson.
Lionsgate Motion Picture Group president Erin Westerman praised the new direction, stating that the project “demanded a bold filmmaker” and that Samuel’s distinctive directorial approach makes him ideal for bringing the adaptation to both longtime fans and newcomers to the Streets of Rage franchise.