Get ready to rev your engines, arcade classic OutRun is officially speeding its way to the big screen, and the team behind it is nothing short of high-octane and Universal Pictures has tapped none other than Euphoria star Sydney Sweeney and action-movie juggernaut Michael Bay for a live-action adaptation of the iconic 1986 Sega driving game.
But before you imagine Sweeney burning rubber in a red convertible, hold that thought, she’s not starring (at least not yet). According to Deadline, Sweeney is currently attached as a producer only, teaming up with Bay, who will both direct and produce the film through his Platinum Dunes banner alongside Brad Fuller. Sega’s Toru Nakahara and Shuji Utsumi are also on board as producers.
The game itself? A landmark in arcade history. Originally released by Sega in the mid-’80s, OutRun was a revolutionary driving game that emphasized not just speed, but style. Players raced against time across scenic backdrops, dodging traffic and shifting gears through branching routes, a gameplay mechanic that was groundbreaking for its time and spawned multiple sequels like OutRunners and OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast.
So what’s the plot of the OutRun movie? Universal’s keeping it in the garage for now. No cast has been confirmed, no storyline leaked. But knowing Bay’s track record (Transformers, Bad Boys, Ambulance), we can probably expect some high-octane action, slow-motion fireballs, and at least one scene where a car narrowly avoids a mid-air helicopter crash.
As for Sweeney, her pivot into producing isn’t new, she previously served as an executive producer on Anyone But You and has been expanding her behind-the-scenes résumé at lightning speed. Teaming up with someone like Bay is a power move that hints she’s serious about flexing more than just her acting chops.
This marks another strong video game IP grab for Universal, who’s fresh off the success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Five Nights at Freddy’s, both of which smashed box office expectations and have sequels in the works. With OutRun, they’re clearly betting big on nostalgia, with a modern, explosive twist.
Whether this becomes a stylish joyride or another bumpy adaptation remains to be seen, but if Sydney and Michael have anything to do with it, it’s going to be loud, fast, and impossible to ignore.
