Another day, another video game adaptation has been announced. This time, it’s Sega’s Shinobi series.
Universal and Sega announced Tuesday that they’re developing a film adaptation of the hack-and-slack video games, and they’ve found a director appropriately well-versed in action to take the helm. Sam Hargrave, a stuntman and filmmaker best known for directing the Chris Hemsworth-starring Netflix movie Extraction, is on board to direct. Ken Kobayashi will write the script.
Plot details haven’t been revealed yet, but the Shinobi series largely followed the ninja Joe Musashi as he fought evil. The first Shinobi game originally launched in arcades in 1987, with Musashi becoming one of Sega’s flagship characters. The series spans 14 games and in an unexpected announcement at last year’s Game Awards, Sega revealed that a new Shinobi game is in development (alongside new entries in other Sega series like Jet Set Radio, Crazy Taxi, and Golden Axe).
It’s only the latest video game to get the adaptation treatment, and Universal itself has found massive success with other ones in the past. The studio’s Super Mario Bros. Movie is the second-highest-grossing film of last year (after Barbie), and still holds the distinction of being the highest-grossing video game adaptation of all time. A follow-up was officially announced in March, which is set to arrive in April 2026.
Universal also had the Five Nights at Freddy’s adaptation (through Blumhouse Productions), which found enough success to merit a sequel as well.
Not to mention, another Sega property, Sonic the Hedgehog, has also sped onto the big screen to franchise-making success for Paramount Pictures. Notably, Toru Nakahara, who produced the Sonic movies as well as the Knuckles spinoff series, is among the producers of Shinobi for Sega.
Further details, including a release window and the wildly important casting of Musashi, have not yet been announced. For more in the meantime, check out our roundup of every upcoming video game movie and show.
Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she’s not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.
