Michael Bay and Sydney Sweeney Set to Rev Up OutRun Movie Adaptation

By DaMarko Webster

The arcade nostalgia wave continues, and this time it’s OutRun that’s getting the big-screen treatment. Universal Pictures is currently developing a live-action adaptation of Sega’s iconic 1986 racing game, with none other than action maestro Michael Bay set to direct. Sydney Sweeney, fresh off a string of high-profile roles, is onboard as a producer.

While Sweeney’s specific involvement on-screen hasn’t been confirmed, the project will be produced under Bay and Brad Fuller’s Platinum Dunes banner, with Jayson Rothwell (Polar, Silent Night) tapped to write the screenplay.

Originally released in arcades in 1986, OutRun set itself apart with groundbreaking “Super Scaler” 3D graphics, branching routes, and a stylish red Ferrari-esque sports car cruising through idyllic, synth-scored landscapes. Players weren’t just racing the clock—they were living a fantasy road trip, top down, soundtrack blazing.

With Toru Nakahara (Sonic the Hedgehog franchise) producing on behalf of Sega and Sega Corp. COO Shuji Utsumi overseeing, this adaptation joins a growing list of retro game titles making the jump to film. And with the genre’s current momentum—see The Last of Us’ critical success and Minecraft’s $700M+ box office—it’s clear that OutRun has the fuel to go the distance.