Per The Hollywood Reporter: Another THR article reveals the current creatives: Space Channel 5 is being written by Barry Battles (The Bayton Outlaws) and Nir Paniry (Extracted). Comix Zone is being written by Mae Catt (Young Justice). Royce Reeves-Darby, Samie Kim Falvey, and Erik Feig are attached as producers.
I was excited about Comix Zone, but then I realized it's going to be Woke Comix Zone. No thanks. Space Channel 5 could be interesting. But it could also be a disaster. I'm a bit cautious on it.
I wouldn't hold my breath on either of these actually ever happening in the end. Remember when Rent-a-hero was supposed to be getting a film that never materialised? FWIW like most video game to film adaptions, I also don't think either are particularly necessary and both titles would benefit much more from having money and effort put behind an actual new game. Space Channel 5 seems particularly disingenuous though - it was made by someone who made his thoughts very clear on the creative and personal enjoyment advantages that video games can often have over films.
The potential matter for concern (bolded), depending on each one's perspective. Also, Space Channel 5's synopsis states "the one thing that unites all people on the planet: our love of silly viral dances". That can also become matter for concern, given current social sensibilities and agendas.
I think the movies could be really great if done properly (I’m a big fan of Comix Zone and I think the current premise sounds like an interesting and cool update/take on the source material). Whether they actually pan out and get made? I don’t realistically see that happening. But I’d love to be surprised.
I almost spit out my drink EDIT: To actually add to the thread, I really really hope they cast Apollo Smile as Ulala
Apparently it's being written by an insane person. https://twitter.com/MaeCatt/status/1560742760704946176
This is a disgusting response coming from an admin of the site. Calling the writer insane and linking to a tweet where the only content that could point to that conclusion is the sentence "queer writer of color", as nothing else in the synopsis feels outside the bounds of Comix Zone's existing story, speaks volumes.
Let's just point out at this stage that the plot of Space Channel 5 features Morolians from another planet, invading and forcing people to dance. Ulala (a reporter for Space Channel 5, a "space" broadcaster that broadcasts to "space") actively stops people dancing... by also dancing. idk
Two films that happen to have the same name as great SEGA games are in development, and the similarities stop there. Cool.
The plot summary as described in the tweet is simply Comix Zone with Mae Catt herself inserted as a character. This is not an encouraging sign. Please try to avoid interpreting people's words in the worst possible way. It's not a sensible approach to a discussion.
I only vaguely remember that Rent-A-Hero one but I know there were plans once for Vectorman and Crazy Taxi to be turned into movies. Crazy Taxi even got mentioned more than once. Can't remember if they'd planned a Bug movie or a Bug TV series (or both), but yes there's a long history of these ideas not going anywhere. Other than the occasional anime (and Sonic) the only Sega movie that was actually finished was (The) House of the Dead. And I hear it's terrible.
You called the writer insane. I don't see the issue with a queer writer of color writing a story that co-stars a queer writer of color. I don't see how that makes someone insane.
A Comix Zone movie could be cool. Not sure about Space Channel 5 since the summary says it will involve a social media trend, but then again I'm an "old" so that's probably just me. Maybe if they lean into the swinging 60's aesthetic they had going on in the games it could work? Guess these are both "wait and see" things... if they ever become see-able that is.
