- Sonic the Hedgehog
Sony and producer Neal Moritz are bringing the best-selling Sega video game Sonic the Hedgehog to the big screen.
The studio is teaming with Japan-based production company Marza Animation Planet, a division of the Sega Sammy Group, to make a hybrid computer-animated/live-action feature.
Upright Citizens Brigade alums Evan Susser and Van Robichaux are writing the screenplay, that will follow the antics of Sonic, the earth's fastest hedgehog. The film will also feature some of the franchise's favorite characters such as the evil Dr. Eggman.
Sony-based Moritz (22 Jump Street) is producing through his Original Film banner alongside Marza’s Takeshi Ito and Mie Onishi. Toby Ascher is executive producing.
In excess of two decades, the billion-dollar Sonic franchise has been one of the world’s biggest gaming phenomena, using more than 140 million games sold.
"There are limitless stories to inform with a character like Sonic the Hedgehog along with a built-in international fan base," Columbia Pictures president of production Hannah Minghella said. "Along with this wonderful creative partners at Marza, we're looking to capture exactly what generations of fans know and love about Sonic while also growing his audience wider than in the past."
The film will look to capture Sonic's irreverent tone and spirit, reuniting him with some of the most revered and infamous characters of the franchise, such as the evil Dr. Eggman. Playful, mischievous, and quick on his feet in additional ways than one, the world's fastest hedgehog is known for his ability to move at supersonic speed to safeguard his friends from their enemies.
Added Marza CEO Masanao Maeda: "Sonic has had a large number of adventures on the console and the small screen, and we're thrilled that he's now coming to the big screen. Sony Pictures has had positive results with hybrid animated and live-action features, and we're confident that this collaboration will bring a fresh decide to try Sonic, while still capturing exactly what the fans love about him."
Sony's hybrid animated/live-action Smurfs has spawned two films up to now.
“Sonic has had dozens of adventures on the console and also the small screen, and we're thrilled that he's now visiting the big screen. Sony Pictures has had positive results with hybrid animated and live-action features, and we're certain that this collaboration will bring a fresh decide to try Sonic, while still capturing exactly what the fans love about him,” added Masanao Maeda, CEO of Marza Animation Planet.
Moritz may be the producer behind the Fast & Furious franchise. He has a Goosebumps adaptation approaching for Sony on Aug. 7, 2015, starring Jack Black.
Minghella and Andrea Giannetti will oversee the Sonic task for the studio.
Susser and Robichaux's feature film screenplay, Chewie, was ranked No. 3 on the 2011 Black List. They're currently writing How to Grow Up, a series in development for CBS, and Fist Fight, an element film with New Girl star Max Greenfield and producers Shawn Levy, Billy Rosenberg and Dan Cohen attached. They're also writing a live-action version of The Jetsons.
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