Summary
Video game movies and TV series are all the rage right now and a classicSEGAarcade franchise is the latest title primed for big-screen treatment. AShinobimovie has been revealed to be in development for Universal and will bring the beloved ninja franchise to the screen for the first time.
TheShinobifranchise was first released on SEGA arcade systemsback in 1987 and the side-scrolling hack-and-slash game proved to be very popular. The story follows ninja Joe Musashi who is out to stop the evil Zeed criminal organization from kidnapping the children from his clan. TheShinobiseries went on to span 14 video game entries, with the most recent release on the Nintendo DS in 2011. After a more than ten-year break, a newShinobigame was announced by SEGA to be in development at The Game Awards in 2023.
Now a movie adaptation may beat the new video game to the punch, with things moving forward on Universal’sShinobifilm. Asreported by Deadline, Sam Hargrave has been tapped to direct theShinobifilm, with a script written by Ken Kobayashi (Sunny). A prolific stuntman, Hargrave is perhaps best known for his directing work on Netflix’sExtractionfilms with Chris Hemsworth. This also won’t be Hargrave’s first foray into the video game world, having directed the short filmPUBG Ground of Honor: Rondoin collaboration withPUBG: Battlegroundsin 2023,which received over 4 million views on YouTube.
Producers on the newShinobimovie include Marc Platt and Adam Seigel (Marc Platt Productions), Dmitri M. Johnson (Story Kitchen), and Toru Nakahara for SEGA. Platt has been on board aShinobifilm adaptation since 2016 but it has taken many years in development for the adaptation to attach key creatives. Back in 2016 Platt said of the movie announcement, “WithShinobi, we hope to make a film that honors the essence of the games.”
The gameplay ofShinobitypically involves the use of shuriken (throwing knives) or a ninjato (sword), as well as platforming abilities like jumping and somersaulting. The game was also praised at the time for its introduction of more advanced enemy AI that allowed them to take cover or block attacks. EachShinobilevel ends with players facing a difficult boss character who they must defeat to progress.
The story ofShinobiis no doubt ripe for a movie adaptation and could follow in the wake of successful action franchises likeJohn WickorMonkey Man. Hargrave’s time on the action-heavyExtractionfilms seemingly makes him a perfect choice to adapt something likeShinobi,and his experience as a stuntman will likely provide plenty of thrilling action set pieces. While no release window was announced, whenShinobidoes hit screens it will be one of a group of fighting video game adaptations on the market, withMortal Kombat 2set for release in 2025, a newStreet Fightermovie adaptation from Capcom aiming for a 2026 release, and aSifufilm in development from theJohn Wickcreative team. SEGA’s other major video game adaptation,Sonic the Hedgehog 3, will hit theaters later this year.
