Netflix has announced that a live-action Crazy Taxi movie is in the works for the streaming platform. Announced as part of a landmark deal between the company and Sega, it's one of three high-profile projects making up this newly revealed slate.
Crazy Taxi will be the first project to head our way, and it's set to be written by Dan Gregor & Doug Mand, the writing duo behind the 2025 reboot of The Naked Gun. Neal H. Moritz, Toby Ascher, and Toru Nakahara, the visionary producers behind the Sonic franchise, are on board to produce.
Since its 1999 arcade debut, Crazy Taxi has put players behind the wheel of a fearless cabbie racing the clock through chaotic city streets — flying off ramps, dodging traffic, and chasing tips with punk-rock energy that became the series' signature. The next title in the franchise, Crazy Taxi: World Tour, is scheduled for release in 2027.
Also on the way is a live-action Stranger Than Heaven movie. From RGG Studio, the developer of the Like a Dragon/Yakuza series, the game takes place in early 20th-century Japan, following a foreigner who claws his way from destitute stranger to feared yakuza to entertainment tycoon. Against the backdrop of a changing nation, how will he build an empire while balancing honour and betrayal?
Sonic will be a new animated series, currently in development with Carlos Stevens and Toru Nakahara, and is set to present Sonic and his friends as heroes for an upper pre-school audience. It's described as a "high-voltage, comedic, yet emotionally grounded series built for kids who want to feel a little edge, a little attitude, and a lot of 'that’s my crew' wish fulfilment."
Shuji Utsumi, President and COO of SEGA, said today, "We've watched Netflix take on stories across every kind of format and treat each one with real craft, and seeing that same dedication applied to Sonic, Crazy Taxi, and Stranger Than Heaven is something we at SEGA are incredibly proud to be a part of."
"The fandoms of these games deserve storytelling that honors what makes each title special, and we know Netflix shares that commitment. This is just the start of what these titles can become."
Toru Nakahara, Head Producer at SEGA, added, "We couldn’t be more thrilled to continue our longstanding relationship with SEGA and bring Crazy Taxi to life with our partners at Netflix. Expect something cute yet cool for Sonic, hilariously crazy for Crazy Taxi, and a badass action drama for Stranger Than Heaven, because we've got some amazing creative ideas lined up and we are just getting started."
These SEGA games will join Netflix's growing slate of video game adaptations including: a live-action Assassin's Creed series; live-action Gears of War film; animated series adaptations based on Minecraft, Magic: The Gathering and Clash of Clans; Overcooked competition series; second seasons of returning favorites Cyberpunk: Edgerunners and Splinter Cell: Deathwatch; and the third and final season of Devil May Cry.
Stay tuned for updates on all of these video game adaptations as we have them.