It looks like we’re going to be riding this wave of video game adaptations for a while. Following the release of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sega is apparently prepping its hit beat ’em up franchise for the big screen. According to a report by Deadline, a Streets of Rage movie is now in production. And, amazingly, it looks like it tapped Derek Kolstad, the creator of John Wick, for the spec script.
It doesn’t seem like anything is confirmed as of yet. Deadline received word of the film through sources, which also claim it’s being produced by dj2 Entertainment (the Sonic films) and Escape Artists. Other information on the movie, including the director and cast, are still unknown.
Regardless, Streets of Rage is a good choice for a movie adaptation. The series’ gritty tones, electronic-jazz fusion musical score, and knuckle-busting action are pretty much perfect for film. Having Kolstad on the payroll is also a boon. His work on John Wick aside, Kolstad was also the writer behind Nobody starring Bob Odenkirk. The film contained a lot of raw, violent action that fits the Streets of Rage mold.
Bloody asphalt
As aforementioned, there’s not much more known about the supposed Streets of Rage movie. I imagine it’ll adopt the story from the first game, in which a city was in the grip of a criminal syndicate. Three police officers, Axel, Blaze, and Adam, take to the streets to beat the literal crap out of everything in order to save their home. The plot was thin, sure, but about what you’d expect from an arcade-style beat ’em up in the ’90s. I wonder if we’ll stray into killer robot territory if the first film is successful. The story does get a little bit wacky in later iterations. On that note, I’m looking forward to CGI Roo.
The last game in the franchise was Streets of Rage 4, which saw the return of the original three protagonists along with some new allies.
