Netflix and Sega are expanding their partnership with a slate of new video game adaptations. The collaboration will include a new animated TV show based on the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, alongside film adaptations of Crazy Taxi and the upcoming RGG Studio title, Stranger Than Heaven.
According to Variety, the deal kicks off with a feature film based on the Crazy Taxi series. The screenwriting duo Dan Gregor and Doug Mand, known for their work on the recent The Naked Gun reboot, are penning the script. Producers Neal H. Moritz, Toby Ascher, and Toru Nakahara, who were involved with the live-action Sonic films, are also attached to this project. The format, whether animated or live-action, has not yet been specified.
The Sonic animated series is described by Sega as a "high-voltage, comedic, yet emotionally grounded" show designed for children who appreciate "a little edge, a little attitude, and a lot of 'that's my crew' wish fulfillment." This series is expected to feature a wide cast of characters from the Sonic universe. Toru Nakahara and animation director Carlos Stevens are attached to the project.
Additionally, a film adaptation of Stranger Than Heaven, RGG Studio's crime-themed action game scheduled for release in January, is also in development. Sega is moving forward with multimedia adaptations for the title prior to its launch.
"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 stated in a press release. Netflix has been active in producing video game adaptations, with existing titles like Castlevania, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, and Arcane in its library, and further projects including Gears of War, Assassin's Creed, and Crash Bandicoot reportedly in development.