Crazy Taxi

Crazy Taxi.

In 2001, it was announced by Goodman-Rosen Productions that they were making a film based off the video game series of the same name, Crazy Taxi. There were two different attempts to create a film based off of the game(s), one of them originally scheduled to release in mid-2003.

Plot

The film would of been the same as the game, which revolves around an unnamed man assuming the job of a taxi driver trying to get customers to their destinations as quickly as possible while performing impressive crazy feats for extra tips.

Development

First announced in 2002, Goodman-Rosen Productions acquired the rights for the film, planned to be completely CGI, with Richard Donner (the director of multiple Superman films) lined up to direct. Donner said that he loved playing Crazy Taxi and thought it had the potential to be a big summer event movie. This first adaptation had a very troubled development, therefore it fell off and was later quickly stalled.

After this option expired, Mindfire Entertainment acquired the rights to a Crazy Taxi movie in 2002 as well, partnering with SEGA, with plans to release it eventually a year later. No further news on the film has been revealed since.

Why It Was Cancelled

1. There were constant delays, especially in regards to cracking the script.
2. There was an "absence of plot elements", according to Movie Insider.
3. The studio had a hard time developing the story altogether, which eventually led to the film rights lapsing harshly.

Results

• The film was permanently cancelled, and Crazy Taxi remains as a video game series.
• Following the Crazy Taxi film's cancellation at SEGA of America, four extras to the original Crazy Taxi game were released, all titled Crazy Taxi 3: High Roller (2002), Crazy Taxi: Catch a Ride (2003), Crazy Taxi: Fare Wars (2007), and Crazy Taxi: City Rush (2014).

Trivia

• The first attempt would have been tied with other merchandise items such as T-shirts and toys, according to Jane Thompson, director of licensing for Sega of America.