Hollywood Rejected A Crash Bandicoot Movie Long Before Video Game Movies Were A Thing

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In a different reality, Crash Bandicoot might have become the initial significant video game character to shine in Hollywood.

A while ago, even before “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” raked in more than $1.3 billion globally and “Sonic the Hedgehog” became a household name, there was an opening for Hollywood to create a Crash Bandicoot adaptation, but they chose not to seize it.

During a recent chat on “The Game Business Show”, Shuji Utsumi, Sega America and Europe‘s CEO, shared an intriguing tidbit from gaming history: way before video game films became commonplace, he proposed a Crash Bandicoot movie to big studios. However, the feedback he received was at most indifferent.

Utsumi said:

“When I started to get involved in the video game business, I picked up Crash Bandicoot and started asking some of the movie studios if they were interested in turning that property into a movie. But I was treated like… ‘hey, video games is like a toy business.’ They didn’t really take it seriously.”

Considering the potential stories Hollywood could have developed, the tale of a genetically enhanced bandicoot and his sister, Coco, fighting against the malevolent Doctor Neo Cortex on the magical Wumpa Islands, has often appeared as an ideal candidate for a heartwarming, animated family film.

Remarkably, with its lively personalities and a fair share of humorous scenes appealing for cinema, it’s astonishing that it hasn’t been featured on the silver screen yet, given numerous past endeavors spanning years to adapt it into a movie format.

A History of Almosts

The idea of Crash making the jump from console to cinema isn’t new.

In the 1990s, Universal Animation Studios designed hand-crafted opening and closing sequences for the initial game, with the intention of using them as a basis for an animated television series. However, these sequences were put aside when Sony emphasized the PlayStation’s 3D capabilities, and they eventually found their way onto YouTube due to producer David Siller.

In 2007, a series of animated web shorts were used to advertise “Crash of the Titans”. These shorts subtly suggested the possibility of the characters’ involvement in future cross-platform storytelling.

Back in 2021, some trial episodes from a supposed Crash Bandicoot animated series, which seemed to be a joint project between Activision and Amazon Studios, ended up being shared online unofficially. It appears the series was scrapped because of disagreements over creative direction.

More recently, in the year 2023, the development team behind Crash, specifically Toys for Bob, took to Twitter to address Sony Pictures Animation, following the release of the Mario movie.

“With the plumber boy’s incredible cinematic run, we think it’s time for Crash’s theatrical debut! What say you?”

Let’s consider a stage appearance for that agile plumber boy, which makes us wonder if it’s high time for Crash to step into the limelight on the big screen! What do you think, @SonyAnimation?

— Toys For Bob (@ToysForBob) April 23, 2023

The tweet generated excitement among the fanbase, but no official announcements followed.

Could A Crash Movie Still Happen?

Although an official announcement about a Crash Bandicoot movie hasn’t been made yet, it seems quite possible that one is being developed.

During an appearance on The Game Business Show, I, as a gamer reflecting on my journey, shared thoughts with the audience about how much the gaming industry has evolved since I initially proposed the idea of a Crash Bandicoot movie back in the day.

He said:

“Video games are finally getting to be the culture, and that’s moving into the movie business. That’s a big shift for the industry that I am really happy about.”

As a devoted gamer, I can’t help but share the excitement that Utsumi expressed about Sega’s strategic move. They’re broadening their cherished franchises beyond just games! This shift, in part, is driven by the phenomenal success of the Sonic the Hedgehog movies. These films have left a “major impact” on our beloved Sonic franchise, sparking a “significant surge” in game sales. It’s a thrilling time to be a fan!

In my gaming world, I’m all about staying ahead of the curve. So, when it comes to Sega, I’m excited that they’re revamping their Japanese studios with a global-first strategy. That means we gamers around the globe will be the first to experience the fresh and innovative games they cook up!

Utsumi stated, “We shifted our approach to address all global gaming enthusiasts as our primary audience.” To accomplish this, we’re now releasing both international and domestic editions concurrently on all available platforms such as PC.

“By changing the system, studios started to prepare for things at the earliest stages, and this has helped their thinking process when developing a game.”

With this new perspective and the company’s aim to develop more intellectual properties, it’s not unreasonable to think that a Crash Bandicoot film could become a reality, although specific plans may still be under wraps.

Are your thoughts aligned with mine that Crash Bandicoot could translate well into a movie, or have you grown weary of witnessing video game series being adapted for the big screen? Share your opinions below!

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2025-07-15 16:10