Streets of Rage Levels Up: Jeymes Samuel to Direct Big-Screen Brawler Based on the ’90s Classic

So, remember Streets of Rage? That gloriously over-the-top Sega brawler from your mate's old Mega Drive, where you and a questionable mullet take on half the criminal underworld armed with nothing but your fists, the odd steam pipe, and some absolute belters of a soundtrack. Apparently, Hollywood's still keen to punch the air (and some thugs) with a film adaptation, and now there's been a bit of a creative shakeup behind the scenes.

New Director, Same Streets

Lionsgate are the ones bankrolling this nostalgia trip, and Variety's let slip that they've handed directing duties to Jeymes Samuel — yes, the same chap behind The Harder They Fall. If you missed that particular Western, picture lots of blood, a cool soundtrack, and more attitude than a pub at closing. Samuel will be steering from a script written by Pat Casey and Josh Miller, who've done the Sonic the Hedgehog films (so they do at least know their way around a video game adaptation, for better or worse).

Now, a bit of history: When this project was first blurted out to the press, it was actually John Wick creator Derek Kolstad handling the script. His earlier draft is still in the mix somewhere, but he's shuffled into a producer role for the moment.

Keeping It Under Wraps (For Now)

As far as plot goes, things are being kept as secret as a Mega Drive cheat code. Official lines suggest the film will embrace the game’s most legendary bits: the cast of oddball vigilantes, that throbbing synth soundtrack, and, naturally, a whole lot of knuckles-to-faces combat.

On selecting Samuel for the job, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group president Eric Westerman trotted out the usual exec-speak:

'We and our partners at SEGA knew that Streets of Rage demanded a bold filmmaker. Jeymes Samuel’s visceral and explosive style—not to mention his signature use of unforgettable music—is perfect for audiences both familiar with and new to the series. We are so excited for how he will bring his own memorable take to this beloved video game IP.'

Why This Game, and Why Now?

For those who need a refresher: Streets of Rage ruled the early '90s and was proper essential gaming for an entire generation who grew up on a diet of neon, pixels, and arguments about who gets to be Axel. A fourth entry in the franchise finally landed in 2020, after 25 years on the bench. So yes, it's a cult classic, but there's at least a bit of recent momentum.

Jeymes Samuel: Previous Form

• The Harder They Fall – Samuel's feature debut. Imagine a Western starring Jonathan Majors, Idris Elba, Regina King and Delroy Lindo, with style and blood to spare. Reviewers (including our own Matt Rooney) reckoned it looked the part, even if the actual story and characters didn't go the distance. His judgement: 'entertaining western with the right amount of style, energy, and blood to give it its own identity... but it's everything outside of that, such as character development and story, that stop it from being a real tour-de-force.'
• The Book of Clarence – Samuel's more recent film, and a biblical comedy about a bloke in ancient Jerusalem who reckons he can cash in on Jesus's fame by pretending to be a new Messiah. Subtle, no. Creative, definitely.

There you have it: a classic beat-'em-up with a director who loves his music, blood, and big visuals. The hope, presumably, is that Samuel can steer this one somewhere interesting, or at least serve up a soundtrack worthy of its pixelated roots.