SEGA Entering The Movies Business

Gamesmaker make a move into filmmaking…

Variety is reporting that Japanese video game developer SEGA is looking to enter the movie business, hiring Break Media executive Evan Cholfin to head up development and production of Stories International, a joint venture between the gamesmaker and advertising agency Hakuhodo DY Group.

According to the trade, the first titles in SEGA’s vast library set for live action and animated treatments includes “Altered Beast,” “Streets of Rage,” “Shinobi,” “Rise of Nightmares” and “Crazy Taxi,” with of spinoffs of “Virtua Fighter” and “Golden Axe” also in the pipeline.

“With his impeccable taste and experience developing and producing entertainment in nearly every format imaginable, Evan is the unique executive to revitalize and canonize our partners’ brands by working with Hollywood to create stories that will last for centuries,” said Stories president and CEO Tomoya Suzuki.

SEGA has also completed a minority investment in All Nippon Entertainment Works through a stock deal. The deal with ANEW will help Stories International expand its entertainment efforts by gaining access to 20 Japanese rights holders who own films, TV shows, books, toys and manga titles.