Universal and Sega are making a Shinobi movie

Universal Pictures is working on a movie based on Sega’s Shinobi franchise.

Deadline reports that the film will be directed by Sam Hargrave, who previously directed Netflix movie Extraction and its sequel.

The screenplay will be handled by Ken Kobayashi, who was a writer and producer on Apple TV+ comedy series Sunny.

It will be produced by Marc Platt and Adam Siegel, who co-produced Scott Pilgrim vs the World and Drive. Platt also produced La La Land and the live action versions of The Little Mermaid and Snow White.

The majority of the Shinobi games revolve around Joe Musashi, a respected ninja who battles agains the evil Zeed crime syndicate.

While there hasn’t been a new Shinobi game since 2011 3DS title Shinobi 3D, Sega has confirmed that a new game in the series is in development.

At The Game Awards last year, the company said it was developing new entries in the Jet Set Radio, Streets of Rage, Golden Axe, Shinobi and Crazy Taxi series.

“Run through the world of Shinobi, full of monsters and ninja actions,” its description for its upcoming Shinobi game reads. “Grab Oberozuki, the legendary sword and slay evil once more. Your clan and the world are counting on you.”

Sega has been enjoying cinematic success with the Sonic the Hedgehog movies, the third of which is set to be released on December 20 with Keanu Reeves playing Shadow.

Universal has also been no stranger to success with the video game adaptations, with last year’s The Super Mario Bros Movie becoming the second-highest grossing film of 2023 (just behind Barbie) and the second-highest grossing animated film of all time (though it’s since dropped down a place because of Inside Out 2).