A new film adaptation of the Sega video game franchise Shinobi is currently in development at Universal Pictures, with Sam Hargrave set to direct.

The film's plot will focus on Joe Musashi, a modern-day ninja who battles evil, continuing the legacy of the franchise that debuted in 1987.

This project is part of Universal's strategy to capitalize on the success of recent video game adaptations, including the highly profitable 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie' and 'Five Nights at Freddy’s,' which both performed well at the box office.

The Super Mario film grossed over $1.4 billion, making it the second-highest grossing film of 2023, setting a precedent for future adaptations.

Mike Goldberg and Timothy I. Stevenson are involved as executive producer and co-producer, respectively, with oversight from Universal’s Ryan Jones and Christine Sun.

Key representatives for the project include WME and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, Smelkinson & Christopher for Hargrave, and CAA and Redefine Entertainment for Kobayashi.

The screenplay is penned by Ken Kobayashi, who has notable credits including writing for Apple/A24’s Sunny and the film Move On, which topped the 2019 Black List.

While details about the film's plot remain scarce, it is expected to depict Joe Musashi confronting contemporary evil.

Joe Musashi has been a flagship character for Sega, alongside other iconic figures like Sonic the Hedgehog, and the franchise has produced over a dozen games in the past four decades.

Sega has highlighted Shinobi as one of its most popular series worldwide, reinforcing the anticipation surrounding this adaptation.

Despite the historical struggles of video game adaptations at the box office, recent trends indicate a growing interest and success in bringing gaming mascots to the big screen.

Fans are hopeful that the film will feature iconic ninja actor Sho Kosugi, adding a nostalgic element to the project.