'Sonic the Hedgehog' film moves over to Paramount

Oct. 3 (UPI) -- Paramount is developing a film based on iconic video game character Sonic the Hedgehog after acquiring the rights to the character from Sony Pictures.

Neal H. Moritz is producing the project after he recently signed a first-look deal with Paramount, Variety reported. The studio took over Sonic after Sony let the film rights lapse.

Deadpool director Tim Miller is executive producing along with Miller's Blu Studio collaborator Jeff Fowler handling directing duties.

Paramount has plans to make the movie using both live action and CGI animation, The Hollywood Reporter reported.

The film was first announced in June 2016 by Sega, who handles the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series, as the company celebrated the 25th anniversary of the blue speedster.

The character's first title Sonic the Hedgehog was released in 1991 for the Sega Genesis. The series to date has sole more than 360 million copies across various gaming platforms. Sega's most recent game Sonic Mania, arrived in August for the Playstation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC.