Sega’s iconic arcade racing game, OutRun, is set to hit the big screen in a surprising movie adaptation. Universal Pictures has tapped renowned director Michael Bay, known for his work on the Transformers series, to helm and produce the film. Joining him is actress Sydney Sweeney, who will also serve as a producer. Jayson Rothwell has been enlisted to pen the screenplay, though plot details remain under wraps, and no release date has been announced yet.

On the Sega front, Toru Nakahara, a key figure in the Sonic movies, will produce the OutRun film, with Sega America and Europe CEO Shuji Utsumi overseeing the project. OutRun, originally launched in 1986, was a groundbreaking arcade driving game crafted by the legendary Sega developer Yu Suzuki. Over the years, it has seen various iterations and ports, with a notable sequel released in 2003. The latest version, OutRun Online Arcade, was developed by Sumo Digital and released in 2009.

Sega has been actively revisiting its classic titles, with new games in development for Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, Golden Axe, Virtua Fighter, and Shinobi. In addition to video games, Sega is expanding its intellectual properties into other media. The Sonic movies have achieved significant success, and the adaptation of Like a Dragon: Yakuza was launched on Amazon last year. With the success of films like The Super Mario Bros. Movie and the upcoming A Minecraft Movie, Hollywood's interest in video game adaptations continues to grow.

As for the OutRun movie, fans speculate that Michael Bay and Sydney Sweeney might be envisioning a high-octane, action-packed film reminiscent of the Fast & Furious franchise. This exciting project promises to bring the thrilling world of OutRun to a new audience in a spectacular way.