Classic Sega Games Coming to TV?

Correction: We incorrectly identified the Michael Hurst who directed The House of the Dead 2 as the Michel Hurst who directed Spartacus and Ash vs the Evil Dead. There are actually 2 Michael Hursts, and the one this article refers to has directed such straight to dvd classics such as Room 6 and The Baby Juice Express.

In 2014, Sega announced plans to expand into TV and Films. We already know that Sega is planning a live action/CG Sonic the Hedgehog film. Now according to Variety, we’ve learned that Sega is planning TV shows based on Altered Beast and Streets of Rage. Stories International, Sega’s multimedia wing, is partnering with Circle of Confusion (Feat the Walking Dead, Powers, Dirk Gently) to create tv shows based upon the two properties. Altered Beast was an arcade game that hit the Genesis as a pack-in game. Playing as a resurrected warrior, players gain the ability to kill demons and absorb their essences to mutate into animal forms. Streets of Rage was a popular beat-em-up franchises starring a group of undercover cops attempting to clean up the city.

Sega is also attempting to bring several other franchises to tv and film, including Virtua Fighter, Crazy Taxi, Shinobi, Golden Axe, and House of the Dead. Coincidentally, House of the Dead was Sega’s first attempt at bringing its franchises to the screen. Uwe Boll directed the disastrous 2003 film while Michael Hurst (Room 6, The Baby Juice Express) directed 2005’s even worse straight to dvd sequel. After that debacle, Sega can’t go anywhere but up. However when it comes to movies based on games, past experiences haven’t exactly filled us with confidence.