Netflix and Sega announced a sweeping multi-project partnership, headlined by a feature film adaptation of the arcade classic Crazy Taxi. The slate also includes a live-action Stranger Than Heaven movie and a preschool-targeted Sonic the Hedgehog animated series.
Video game adaptations in Hollywood have experienced plenty of false starts over the years, but streaming platforms are doubling down on titles with established player bases and built-in fandoms. Netflix and Sega are leaning into this strategy by rolling out a diverse slate of projects spanning live-action comedy, crime drama, and kids’ animation.
Crazy Taxi and Stranger Than Heaven Head to the Big Screen
The crown jewel of the new partnership’s film slate is a live-action feature adaptation of Crazy Taxi. First released in arcades in 1999, the game puts 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.
Dan Gregor and Doug Mand, the screenwriting duo behind the 2025 reboot of The Naked Gun, are penning the script. Producers on the project include Original Film’s Neal H. Moritz and Toby Ascher, alongside Sega’s Toru Nakahara.
Producers noted that the film honors anyone who spent hours behind the wheel of a yellow cab on a Sega Dreamcast with the music cranked up.
Joining the film slate is an adaptation of Stranger Than Heaven, hailing from RGG Studio, the developer behind the Like a Dragon / Yakuza series. Set in early 20th-century Japan, the story follows a foreigner who claws his way from destitute stranger to feared yakuza to entertainment tycoon. Nakahara is producing the live-action feature take.
Expanding the Sonic Universe on Netflix
The partnership also brings the iconic blue hedgehog back to the streaming service with a brand-new animated series. Unlike Sonic Prime, which ran for three seasons, this new project targets a much younger demographic.
The animated series is in development with Carlos Stevens and Toru Nakahara, with the streamer targeting an upper pre-school audience. Sega described the project 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 fulfillment.
Cross-Era Collaboration and Executive Perspective
Executives from both companies emphasized that the multi-title collaboration bridges three entirely distinct eras of Sega’s catalog. Brandon Riegg, VP of Nonfiction and Transmedia at Netflix, noted the strategic advantage of pulling from a deep library of established intellectual property.
“Great games already have what every adaptation is chasing — characters people love, worlds they know by heart, and fandoms that show up. With Crazy Taxi, Sonic and Stranger Than Heaven, we get to work across three completely different eras of Sega’s catalog, celebrating everything fans love, while introducing them to new audiences.”
Brandon Riegg, VP of Nonfiction and Transmedia at Netflix
Shuji Utsumi, president and COO of Sega, added that the studio trusts Netflix’s track record with game adaptations across various formats. Sega Head Producer Toru Nakahara offered a preview of the tonal variety across the three projects, promising something cute yet cool for Sonic, hilariously crazy for Crazy Taxi, and a badass action drama for STRANGER THAN HEAVEN.