Universal Adapts Sega's Shinobi Video Game Into Movie Directed by Sam Hargrave

Universal Pictures is set to bring Sega's iconic video game "Shinobi" to the big screen, with "Extraction" filmmaker Sam Hargrave at the helm. 

The film adaptation will be produced by Marc Platt, alongside Story Kitchen's Dmitri M. Johnson and Sega's Toru Nakahara. The screenplay is being penned by Ken Kobayashi (Sunny, Move On), drawing from the beloved 1987 arcade game that follows the story of Joe Musashi, a modern-day ninja battling evil. "Shinobi" has expanded into a successful franchise with 14 sequels and over five million copies sold worldwide.

This announcement follows Universal's recent streak of success with video game adaptations, including the smash hits "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" and "Five Nights at Freddy's", which collectively grossed over $1.69 billion at the global box office. Sega, too, has made waves with its "Sonic the Hedgehog" franchise, with the 2020 and 2022 films earning $319 million and $405 million, respectively. "Shinobi" now joins the roster of high-profile video game adaptations with hopes of similar box-office triumphs.

Hargrave, known for his action-packed "Extraction" films on Netflix, has several upcoming projects, including "Matchbox" for Mattel Films and Skydance, and "Kill Them All" in development at Paramount Pictures.