Summary
Following a string of largely successful video game film adaptations, renowned gaming developer and publisher Sega has officially landed a writer for a film based on the classic Genesis title,Eternal Champions. This marks the first major development the franchise has seen in over a decade, where it has since remained dormant.
Eternal Championswas developed and published by Sega and made its debut at the end of 1993, an era that saw Sega foster their own premiere fighting franchise following the immense success of Capcom’sStreet Fighterand Midway’sMortal Kombatgames. WhileEternal Champions' initial success generated a sequel and two spin-off titles by 1996, the series was put on ice following Sega’s desire to instead pushVirtua Fighteras the company’s flagship fighting franchise. Whatever momentumEternal Championshad achieved soon dissipated and remained largely untouched – save for ports on the Virtual Console and Steam in 2008 and 2010, respectively – untilvideo game adaptations began to take Hollywood by stormin recent years.
Sega Lands a Writer ForEternal Champions’Live-Action Adaptation
As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, screenwriter Derek Connolly has been tapped to write the screenplay of a live-actionEternal Championsfilm for Skydance. Connolly is no stranger to video game adaptations, having worked on the scripts forDetective Pikachuand the forthcomingMetal Gear SolidandThe Legend of Zeldafilms. Connolly has also received writing credits for his debut screenplay, the critically acclaimedSafety Not Guaranteed, in addition to several major franchise films in the form of theJurassic Worldtrilogy,Kong: Skull Island, andStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Toru Nakahara, who oversaw theSonic the Hedgehogfilm trilogy, will serve as a producer for the film.
While thestory details of the filmare currently unknown, the original game’s story follows esteemed fighters who are plucked from the past, present, and future by a higher entity known as the Eternal Champion and pitted against each other in a tournament to determine the fated victor who will restore balance to the world. Those who are unsuccessful are sent back to their respective time, moments before their untimely demise.
The success of theSonic the Hedgehogfilm franchise has likely served as a catalyst for other titles in the esteemed publisher’s library to receive a major adaptation, withthe upcomingLike a Dragon: Yakuzatelevision seriesset to premiere on Prime Video later this year. ForSonic’s success to shakeEternal Championsout of its stasis is sure to be a resounding victory for fans of the classic game series. With this high-profile development ringing through the film industry, Sega will hopefully capture renewed interest and develop a new and long-overdue title in theEternal Championsseries.
