- Shinobi is one of the most popular video game franchises of all time
- Sam Hargrave is down to direct the adaptation of the game
- Shinobi is the latest in a series of video games being adapted for the big screen
Another classic video game franchise is set to get the big screen treatment with Universal working on an adaptation of Sega’s classic Shinobi.
Busy director
Deadline reported that Sam Hargrave – best known for the Extraction films on Netflix – is scheduled to direct the film. Universal is the studio behind the project, in partnership with Sega. Ken Kobayashi (Sunny) is writing the screenplay.
Hargrave will add this to the list of upcoming projects he is attached to. He is also working on the Matchbox film – the adaptation of the die cast car series – for Mattel Films and Skydance, as well, as Kill Them All for Paramount.
Classic Sega game
Shinobi was first launched in 1987 by Sega. In the game, players control a ninja (shinobi) Joe Musashi, who must fight ninja crime syndicate Zeed. Shinobi was instantly popular because of the quality of gameplay, graphics and music. Musashi even became the figurehead for Sega for a short time before the emergence of a certain blue hedgehog.
Since that original game was released, there have been numerous sequels and spinoffs, some featuring Musashi as the hero, but later games had other protagonists including Sho and Hotsuma. In all, the Shinobi series has sold more than 4.6 million copies across a range of console and computer formats.
Shinobi is the latest classic video game franchise to be made into a movie, following in the footsteps of Sonic The Hedgehog. The third instalment of that film franchise is due out later this year, with Keanu Reeves providing the voice of the main antagonist, Shadow.
Others have got in on the act, such as the hugely popular Super Mario Bros Movie, which is also getting a sequel, and the upcoming Minecraft movie, which will star Jack Black as Steve. Other films in development include The Sims and Street Fighter.
