Streets of Rage Movie Sets Jeymes Samuel as Director

June 2, 2026 - 04:53

Lionsgate has found its director for the big-screen adaptation of the classic Sega beat-em-up video game. Jeymes Samuel, known for his work on "The Harder They Fall," has signed on to helm the "Streets of Rage" movie. The project has been in development for some time, with an earlier draft of the screenplay written by Derek Kolstad, the creator of the "John Wick" franchise.

Samuel brings a distinct visual style and a deep appreciation for genre storytelling to the table. His previous film was a stylish, modern take on the Western, and he is also a musician, which could be a key asset for a property built around a legendary electronic soundtrack. The original "Streets of Rage" games, released in the early 1990s, followed vigilantes Axel Stone and Blaze Fielding as they fought their way through a crime-ridden city to take down a syndicate. The games were famous for their cooperative gameplay and a soundtrack composed by Yuzo Koshiro that became a landmark in video game music.

No casting announcements have been made yet, and plot details remain under wraps. However, with Samuel now attached, the adaptation is moving forward with a director who has a clear vision for action and period aesthetics. The film joins a growing list of video game adaptations in Hollywood, as studios continue to mine classic properties for new audiences.