Legendary computer racing game of the 1980s: Outrun returns as a film

The legendary arcade racing game Outrun is coming to the big screen as a film. Introduced in 1986 by the Japanese video game and arcade machine manufacturer Sega, Outrun quickly became one of the most popular computer games. Its popularity was also due to the fact that the game ran on many computers that now enjoy cult status – for example, users of the Commodore 64, the Commodore Amiga, the Amstrad/Schneider CPC, the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, and the Atari ST all played Outrun. Of course, the game also ran on various Sega consoles (Master System, Mega Drive/Genesis, Game Gear, Saturn, and Dreamcast). Those with expensive color CRT monitors enjoyed the colorful pixel graphics, while everyone else was just as satisfied with the display on their green, amber, or black-and-white monitors.

In the game, the driver drives a red Ferrari Testarossa – a roadster to be exact. Whether the game's developers were actually thinking of the only officially built Pininfarina Testarossa Spider is unknown. The real Testarossa Spider, intended as a gift for then-Fiat CEO Gianni Agnelli, was painted silver. But there were unofficial conversions by private tuners – many of them red. The route led through the USA – the iconic opening screen with the perfectly straight palm-lined road under a blue sky (Coconut Beach) sent shivers down the spines of countless players. The computer-controlled vehicles fit well with the Californian streetscape of the time – you came across a 1971 Corvette C3, a 1972 VW Beetle, a 1985 Porsche 911 Carrera Turbo, and a 1985 BMW 325i Cabriolet E30. And the game offered much more.

The driver had to reach certain checkpoints within a certain time before moving on. The stage-based structure of a racing game captivated players – and later became one of the keys to the success of the first installment of the now equally legendary Need for Speed ​​(1994). A new feature in Outrun was that the player had to choose between two routes before each checkpoint – this type of route selection had never existed before. In an accident, the Ferrari overturned, and the driver and his blonde passenger were thrown from the car. As a condescending consequence, the blonde then scolded the driver.

Track, graphics, and background music – Outrun was considered the best racing game of the arcade and home computer era. Japanese composer Hiroshi Kawaguchi composed four pieces specifically for the background music – players could choose which music they wanted to hear.

Deadline, the online portal specializing in film and television, is now reporting, citing unidentified insiders, that a film adaptation of Outrun is planned. US actress Sydney Sweeney is said to be the producer. Sweeney was born in 1997, eleven years after the release of Outrun. The 28-year-old is a classic car fanatic and has 1.9 million followers on her TikTok channel dedicated to classic vehicles . Whether Sweeney will also appear in the film has not yet been announced—she may even get behind the wheel herself. However, the director has already been chosen.

Chase, chase, and explosion expert Michael Bay is set to direct the film. The 60-year-old action fan has helmed blockbusters such as Bad Boys, The Rock, Pearl Harbor, and Transformers. He's also made a name for himself with remakes of horror classics such as Michael Bay's Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Amityville Horror, and A Nightmare on Elm Street (featuring the fictional serial killer Freddy Krueger). Bay is therefore well-versed in handling classic material.

The screenplay is by Jayson Rothwell (Lawrence, Polar), Sega president Shuji Utsumi is overseeing the project for the Japanese game maker, and production is handled by Universal. When filming will begin or when the film will hit screens has not yet been announced.