Before the end of this year 2024, sonic 3 will be released in cinemas. A production which could represent a change of cycle compared to the character on the big screen. But that doesn’t mean that sega will not continue to exploit its creative licenses in cinematographic form. Well, as we learned a few hours ago, the legendary saga “Shinobis” will also have a big screen adaptation by Universal Pictures and director Sam Hargravesknown for having shot both parts of Tyler Rake. One more project that follows the lucrative trend that Hollywood is discovering the narrative field of the world of consoles.
Adaptations of The Blue Hedgehog have given rise to some feature films the most lucrative of the subgenrewhich demonstrates in a certain sense the undeniable appeal that some of the Japanese developer’s charismatic characters possess. However, instead of reconnecting with Paramount Pictures, Sega will now strengthen its ties with Universal. A major who managed to find commercial exploitation in the virtual domain thanks to films like Super Mario Bros: The Movie either Five Nights at Freddy’s. The first managed to raise more than $1.3 billion worldwide, while the second managed to raise around $308 million, counting on future sequels for both titles. The new attack in the field of video games will respond to this franchise created in 1987, which will be represented given the choice to place Hargraves behind the cameras as a total commitment to seamless action, in true John Wick style.
What is the Shinobi saga about?
Be an IP wherever possible, somewhat modern for the world of video gamesShinobi does not seem a priori to be a claim of the caliber of Mario Bros, Sonic, Zelda and company. However, its development has seen many successful deliveries. The series follows the ninja Joe Musashiwho frequently struggles with Zeeda Japanese crime syndicate. With a style called hacker and slasher in which hand-to-hand combat takes priority, the games in the saga are characterized by the management of the protagonist as he faces several enemies, either with his katanas, throwing stars or various weapons which the hero uses while jumping between buildings and performing deadly stunts.
The original game generated up to 13 sequels and spin-offsthe most recent being “Shinobi 3D”, published in 2011. Despite this apparent commercial abandonment, Sega takes its intellectual property very seriously, since at the end of 2023 it announced that it was developing a new episode that would restart the franchise.
According to the press release distributed and collected by IndieWire, Shinobi will be produced by Marc Platt and Adam Siegel via the Marc Platt Productions label, while Dmitri M. Johnson will do the same via Story Kitchen. From Sega, the person responsible for overseeing the project will be Toru Nakahara and the two Mike Goldberg as Timothy I. Stevenson They will complete the main executive section.
Sam Hargrave is the perfect director
Shinobi will have a script that will be written by Ken Kobayashiresponsible for adapting works such as Sunny or Marvel comics, Hit-Monkey. But hopes for the film version appear to rest on Hargrave’s direction. A filmmaker who has proven that he knows how to get along with loose budgets and connect with streaming audiences, creating what was perhaps Netflix’s first audience success. Tyler Rake received a brilliant welcome thanks to its commitment to limitless action, version of the original graphic novel by Ande Parks and Fernando León González. Even if before launching into directing, he was, like Chad Stahelski and David Leitch, a double coordinator in several UCM (Marvel Cinematographic Universe) films, in addition to being the director of the second unit of the second season of The Mandalorian.
A decision which seems correct and which will ensure great hand-to-hand combat. Nothing else, but Shinobi barely will be unrealistic in their choreographies. There is still no official premiere date and it is also unclear who will be the main actor taking on the lead role. Before, Hargrave will present the series The last frontier. A production of Apple TV+ in which, over 10 episodes, it will focus on the story of a plane full of prisoners that crashes in an Alaskan wilderness and how a single police officer in the region must take charge of it.
