Netflix and Sega team up for a Crazy Taxi movie from the Naked Gun writers
Netflix and Sega announced on Monday, September 14, a film adaptation of arcade racer Crazy Taxi, written by Naked Gun reboot duo Dan Gregor and Doug Mand, as part of a wider multi-title partnership.
TL;DR
- Netflix and Sega confirmed a live-action Crazy Taxi comedy on September 14.
- Dan Gregor and Doug Mand, who wrote the 2025 Naked Gun reboot, are penning the script.
- The film is the first project from a broader Netflix-Sega deal that also includes a new Sonic the Hedgehog kids’ series and a Stranger Than Heaven adaptation.
- Sega is separately releasing Crazy Taxi: World Tour in 2027.
What we know about the Crazy Taxi movie
Crazy Taxi first launched in arcades in 1999 and put players behind the wheel of a reckless cab driver racing against the clock. According to Netflix’s official announcement, the new film will be a live-action comedy built around that same chaotic energy.
There’s no confirmed cast, director or release date yet. The project is described as being in early development.
Who’s behind the project
The screenplay comes from Dan Gregor and Doug Mand, the writing pair behind 2025’s Naked Gun reboot starring Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson.
Producing duties fall to Neal H. Moritz and Toby Ascher of Original Film, alongside Sega’s Toru Nakahara — the same trio behind the Sonic the Hedgehog film franchise.
“This film is for anyone who’s spent hours behind the wheel of a yellow cab on their Dreamcast,” Moritz and Ascher said in a joint statement, according to the Netflix announcement.
Brandon Riegg, VP of Nonfiction and Transmedia at Netflix, framed the project as part of a broader strategy around gaming IP. “Great games already have what every adaptation is chasing — characters people love, worlds they know by heart,” Riegg said.
Sonic and Stranger Than Heaven are also on the slate
Crazy Taxi is the first of several titles under the new Netflix-Sega deal. A new animated Sonic the Hedgehog series aimed at a younger, pre-school audience is also in the works, separate from Netflix’s earlier Sonic Prime.
A live-action adaptation of Stranger Than Heaven, from the makers of Like a Dragon: Yakuza, rounds out the announced slate, according to Variety’s report.
UK viewers will be paying more for the platform hosting it
Whenever Crazy Taxi does land, it’ll arrive on a pricier Netflix for UK subscribers. The streamer raised its UK prices again this month.
| Plan | Monthly price |
|---|---|
| Standard with ads | £7.99 |
| Standard | £13.99 |
| Premium | £20.99 |
Source: T3
The increases took effect from September 3, 2026, marking the second UK price rise Netflix has made this year.
Why it matters
A Crazy Taxi movie is a curious bet: the last mainline game in the series arrived in 2002, and the franchise has largely survived on ports and mobile spin-offs since. Sega is clearly hoping a film, paired with next year’s Crazy Taxi: World Tour, can revive interest in the brand ahead of the game’s 2027 launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC and Nintendo Switch 2, according to EntertainmentNow.
It also signals Netflix leaning further into game adaptations following the commercial success of its Sonic-adjacent projects, betting that nostalgia alone can carry a dormant IP back into the cultural conversation.
Reported from publicly available interviews and verified press sources. Last reviewed September 16, 2026.
Chloe Jones is a film and television critic dedicated to providing expert analysis of movies, web series, and the latest in prestige TV. Known for her insightful perspective and deep industry knowledge, Chloe helps audiences navigate the crowded streaming landscape with honesty and expertise. Folow me on letterboxd
