Sega has confirmed that it’s bringing Space Channel 5 and Comix Zone games to the big screen.
Adding to Sega’s successful series of game-to-movie crossovers, the Space Channel 5 dance game will be rebranded as Channel 5 and, according to Hollywood Reporter (opens in new tab)“tell the story of a down-on-his-luck fast food worker who is recruited by a freedom reporter from the future to save the world from aliens using the one thing that unites all humans on the planet: our love of silly viral dances.”
The films will reportedly be written by Barry Battles and Nir Paniry, who wrote The Baytown Outlaws and Extracted respectively.
As for the Comix Zone? This one is also getting a new name – Zone – and will be written by Mae Catt, whose credits include Young Justice and Dragons: The Nine Realm.
Space divas, comic panels and movies! SEGA partners with @picturestart to produce film adaptations of Space Channel 5 and Comix Zone! Which parts of these SEGA gems are you most excited to see play out on the big screen? 🎥 #SEGA #SpaceChannel5 #ComixZone pic.twitter.com/WcdfnWJe5yAugust 19, 2022
Zone will follow “a jaded comic book creator and a young, queer writer of color who, entering the final issue of his popular series, must put aside their differences to stop a dangerous supervillain from wreaking havoc. In the process, intelligently explore the ever-evolving art of storytelling itself.”
Sega video game director Takumi Yoshinaga will direct Channel 5, while Sega video game producer Kagasei Shimomura will join the Zone team. Both films will be produced by the same production company, Picturestart, led by Royce Reeves-Darby and Erik Feig, along with Samie Kim Falvey who is also involved in the upcoming Borderlands film.
The projects will be produced by Sega’s Tory Nakahara, who also produced the Sonic the Hedgehog film series.
They’re not even the weirdest film adaptations we’ve heard about this month, of course. A live action movie based on Pac-Man (opens in new tab) – still one of the most beloved and recognized video game characters in the world – is on the way.
Pac-Man creators Bandai Namco Entertainment are behind the new adaptation, based on an original concept developed by live-action Sonic the Hedgehog producer Chuck Williams.
Last week we reported that the director bringing Ghost of Tsushima to the big screen says the film will be “an all Japanese cast, in Japanese” (opens in new tab).
Chad Stahelski also confirmed that Sony is “on board” with his plan to create an authentic Japanese experience that will be “visually stunning” and celebrate his “love for the country, love for the people, love for the language ».
For more, check out our list of all upcoming video game movies (opens in new tab) in 2022 and beyond.
