Marc Platt, Stories Int'l To Produce SHINOBI For The Big Screen

Lee B. Golden III

8 years ago

Save your energy for the next seveal years to come if you’re the type who’s most vigilant when it comes to video game adaptations. If you’ve been tuning in, you already know of several that are underway through various platforms since the launch of Stories International, Inc. back in 2011 with news panning out just a few years later on forthcoming Sega game adaptations.

One of them includes Shinobi, the popular game franchise that began in 1987 with a plot that saw a young ninja rise up against the crime syndicate, Zeed. The franchise succeeds into varying plots with different protagonists as the series continued, but as always, it’ll be interesting to see what can be accomplished on film, and now it appears the film is moving forward with the attachment of producer Mark Platt whose credits include Bridge Of Spies and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, as well as Timur Bekmambetov’s Wanted and its brewing sequel.

That said, game adaptations can be a pretty daunting high wire act. Obviously there have been failures and many to do with the inability to respect the source material and stick to detail. A few successes have arisen though they’ve been smaller productions with great directors thusfar, this year’s Warcraft and Assassin’s Creed currently await their judgment before the masses this summer.

Will Shinobi live up to the task at hand? Time will tell, and it’s certainly understandable why skepticism would be the appropriate response – such is what happens when producers and studios put out mediocre content and then ask moviegoers to pay anywhere from $8 to $20 to watch something mediocre for two hours (AHEM!, AHEM!). This is something I can certainly empathize with since I’m not exactly growing money on trees myself …however, as a martial arts fan advocating for more martial arts movies on a daily basis, I’m keen.

Mr. Platt, the floor is yours.

LOS ANGELES (April 29,2016) – Producer Marc Platt, through his production banner Marc Platt Productions, is partnering with STORIES INTERNATIONAL, INC., the production arm and joint venture of renowned video game brand SEGA Group and Hakuhodo DY Group, to develop and produce the film adaptation of SEGA’s iconic video game franchise, SHINOBI.

Marc Platt and Adam Siegel will produce alongside STORIES President and CEO, Tomoya Suzuki.

Marc Platt’s productions include the films BRIDGE OF SPIES, INTO THE WOODS, DRIVE, WANTED; LEGALLY BLONDE, RACHEL GETTING MARRIED and SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD; the television event GREASE LIVE! (FOX) and EMPIRE FALLS (HBO) for which Marc Platt won the Golden Globe for Best Miniseries; and Broadway’s blockbuster musical WICKED.

STORIES is producing multiple film, television and digital projects based on SEGA intellectual properties, including the beloved game franchises SHINOBI, GOLDEN AXE, ALTERED BEAST, VIRTUA FIGHTER, and CRAZY TAXI, and is in the process of partnering with the major studios, producers and filmmakers to co-develop adaptations of these properties as English-language feature films, television and digital series for worldwide release.

Platt explains, “We love the Shinobi games and believe that the world of ninjas has never been properly explored onscreen. We now have the opportunity to do just that. With Shinobi, we hope to make a film that honors the essence of the games and brings this fascinating world to life for moviegoing audiences.”

Suzuki adds, “Marc, Adam and the team at Marc Platt Productions are the perfect partners to bring the beloved SEGA character Joe Musashi and the SHINOBI game franchise to the big screen. We are thrilled to work with them.”

Tomoya Suzuki and STORIES INTERNATIONAL, INC. are repped by CAA.

Evan J. Cholfin at STORIES will oversee the project as a development executive.

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