Stock up on smoke bombs and shurikens, a Shinobi movie is in the works! The long-running ninja action game from Sega centers on protagonist Joe Musashi, a character who's been scaling walls and slashing opponents since his arcade game debut in 1987. More famous than Alex Kidd but arguably less so than Sonic the Hedgehog, Musashi now appears destined for the big screen if a new partnership is any indication.
Producer Marc Platt (Bridge of Spies, Drive, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World) and his production company Marc Platt Productions have teamed up with Stories International, Inc., the production division of SEGA Group and Hakuhodo DY Group, with the aim of adapting the high-priority Shinobi franchise as a feature film. Though no plot details are available at the moment, it's possible the film could go back to Musashi's origins as a weak boy who becomes a skilled and respected ninja through diligent training.
What's crazier than the fact that a Shinobi movie might be on the way is that Stories is producing multiple cross-platform projects based on Sega properties. These include: "Golden Axe," "Altered Beast," "Virtua Fighter" and "Crazy Taxi." That's nuts. And the 80s videogame player in you--or if you're younger, the emulator player in you--should be cautiously optimistic. The films, TV projects and digital series are all aimed to be developed in the English-language.
Platt further explains the deal:
“We love the Shinobi games and believe that the world of ninjas has never been properly explored onscreen. We now have the opportunity to do just that. With Shinobi, we hope to make a film that honors the essence of the games and brings this fascinating world to life for moviegoing audiences.”
Stories' CEO Tomoya Suzuki adds, “Marc, Adam and the team at Marc Platt Productions are the perfect partners to bring the beloved SEGA character Joe Musashi and the SHINOBI game franchise to the big screen. We are thrilled to work with them.”
What do you think about a potential Shinobi movie? And what about those other Sega properties? Let us know in the comments below!
