For the next few years, major studios will be throwing some of its weight towards video game-based films, all in the hope that they will do for video game movies in the same fashion as what Marvel Studios did for comic book movies. One studio that seems poised to double down on this mission is Sony Pictures, who won’t stop at adapting a mobile game franchise to the big screen. Now, the studio is hoping to do the same for a major video game character (with help from the developer).
In an interview with The Worldfolio, Sega CEO Hajime Satomi confirmed that Sony Pictures is moving forward on a live-action/CG hybrid adaptation of the Sonic the Hedgehog video game franchise (the film was previously announced in 2014). While not forthcoming with a solid release date, Hatomi revealed that the film is aiming for a 2018 release window.
Mega-producer Neal Moritz (The Fast and the Furious and 21 Jump Street franchises) is attached to the film. Evan Susser and Van Robichaux will write the screenplay. Marza Animation Planet, the main CGI development wing of Sega and an arm of Sega Sammy Holdings, will be responsible for animating the CG characters in the film.
According to Hatomi, the film will mark Sega’s expansion into previously unexplored mediums like film and TV: “Like with this CG animation production, we would like to expand our business into other entertainment areas beyond what we are currently involved in.”
Like with Angry Birds, a live-action/CG Sonic movie is a risky bet but for different reasons. Sonic the Hedgehog is still recognized as an A-list video game icon, but live-action/CG hybrids don’t have a great track record when it comes to quality (there are few movies in that category that are genuinely good). On the flip side, if they can manage to make this film work on a blockbuster level (an approach that Sonic easily lends itself to), than they will have succeeded on two fronts: making a good video game movie adaptation and a good live-action/CG hybrid film.
There’s also the added benefit of the film possibly being a franchise starter, with plenty of material to borrow from and much of it going beyond the video games. But whether or not the film gets to that point, we’ll have to wait roughly another two years to find out.
What do you think? If you are fan of the games, what are your thoughts on a live-action/CG Sonic movie?
Edited by: Kelly Conley