Michael Bay is set to direct an OutRun film featuring Sydney Sweeney, according to reports.

      Sega

      Get The Drive’s daily newsletter

      Movies and TV shows based on video games are experiencing a significant surge in popularity at the moment. "A Minecraft Movie" has transformed into a genuine cultural phenomenon (just ask your young relatives about "chicken jockey"), while adaptations like HBO’s "The Last of Us" and "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" have also received a relatively positive reception. Now, renowned for explosive action scenes and high-octane car chases, filmmaker Michael Bay is reportedly looking to join in on the excitement with a feature film adaptation of the classic racing game: "OutRun."

      Sources have informed Deadline that the director of "Transformers" and "Bad Boys" will helm the "OutRun" movie. Actress Sydney Sweeney is reportedly involved as a producer rather than appearing as a lead. The credibility of this information is supported by its sharing on Sweeney’s Instagram story Monday night, as well as by Jayson Rothwell, the purported writer of the film, on X.

      Sweeney has nearly confirmed the movie's development on her social media. Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Armani beauty

      For those who may not know, "OutRun" was a major sensation in the 1980s, being the highest-grossing arcade game of 1987. Featuring pixelated 16-bit graphics, players would race a Ferrari Testarossa along a picturesque coastal road flanked by palm trees—typical imagery associated with Michael Bay.

      An interesting note: In the original game from 1986, the Testarossa was not an officially licensed product but rather a clear, unofficial lookalike. However, subsequent versions utilized real Ferraris with proper licensing.

      It’s well-known that Ferrari can be a challenging automobile manufacturer to negotiate with. Nevertheless, it’s hard to believe that convincing the company to showcase its cars in a cinematic adaptation of "OutRun" would be overly difficult, especially given its cooperative relationship with Bay and its increasing openness to licensing its vehicles for entertainment purposes. Recently, Ferrari generated buzz with the revival of Ferrari Hot Wheels, another toy line that is expected to receive a live-action movie adaptation in the near future, with J.J. Abrams reportedly linked to that project.

      Have a tip or inquiry for the author regarding the OutRun movie? You can reach out to him here: [email protected]