Netflix to Produce Crazy Taxi Movie as Sega Prepares Comedy, New Sonic Series, and Yakuza Drama

Streaming service Netflix and Japanese publisher Sega have signed a long-term agreement to co-produce films and TV series based on iconic gaming franchises. The partnership will be headlined by a feature-length comedy adaptation of the arcade racer Crazy Taxi, alongside a new animated series about Sonic the Hedgehog and the crime drama Stranger Than Heaven currently in development.

Crazy Taxi Drivers from ‘The Naked Gun’ Writers

The script for the feature film based on Crazy Taxi will be penned by Dan Gregor and Doug Mand, who previously wrote the hit comedy Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers and the reboot of the classic The Naked Gun. The project does not have a director attached yet, but the production team includes Neal H. Moritz (Fast & Furious), Toby Ascher, and Sega Vice President Toru Nakahara, who produced the Sonic the Hedgehog film trilogy.

As highlighted in the official press release on About Netflix, the movie will preserve the high-octane aesthetic of the original 1999 arcade game: crazy ramp jumps through the streets of San Francisco, racing for tips, dangerous stunts in a yellow convertible, and the iconic punk rock soundtrack.

The film adaptation will be part of a broader revival of the franchise: Sega itself is currently developing a big-budget reboot, Crazy Taxi: World Tour, scheduled for release in 2027.

New Sonic Series and an Early 20th-Century Yakuza Saga

The partnership with Netflix extends beyond a single comedy. The companies announced two additional major media projects:

• A new Sonic animated series: The animation project is unrelated to the concluded series Sonic Prime and is being created by producer Carlos Stevens with a younger family audience in mind;
• A live-action Stranger Than Heaven film: A feature-length adaptation of the historical drama from Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio (creators of the Yakuza / Like a Dragon franchise). The film will cover the rise of Japanese organized crime in the early 20th century, following the protagonist’s journey from a destitute fugitive to an influential Yakuza boss and entertainment industry mogul.

According to The Verge, the Crazy Taxi movie will be the first to arrive, though filming schedules and release dates will be announced later. The strategic alliance between Sega and Netflix reinforces the trend of bringing classic Dreamcast-era arcade hits to theaters and home streaming services.