Netflix Developing Live-Action Persona TV Series With Sega and Atlus
Netflix is developing a live-action television series based on Sega and Atlus's Persona role-playing game franchise. The project was first reported by Variety, citing sources familiar with the matter.
Christopher Monfette, a writer known for his work on Star Trek: Picard and 9-1-1, is attached to lead the adaptation. According to the report, Monfette will serve as the showrunner, writer, and an executive producer.
The Netflix series aims to adapt the beloved characters of Persona 5.
The streaming giant is partnering with the franchise's rights holders, Sega and Atlus, to bring the series to screen. No official comment has been provided by Netflix regarding the report.
Production Powerhouse: 21 Laps and Story Kitchen Join the Project
The live-action Persona series has assembled a significant production team, with the companies 21 Laps and Story Kitchen joining the project as executive producers. According to a report by Variety, both firms are attached to the adaptation in its early development stages.
21 Laps, the production company headed by Shawn Levy, will serve as an executive producer. Levy, alongside 21 Laps' Robert Atwood, is named among the project's executive producers in the Variety report. Netflix has a established collaborative history with 21 Laps, most notably on the hit series Stranger Things.
Story Kitchen, a production company focused on video game adaptations, is also onboard as an executive producer. The firm's principals—Dmitri M. Johnson, Michael Lawrence Goldberg, and Timothy I. Stevenson—are listed as executive producers. Story Kitchen's portfolio includes the live-action Sonic the Hedgehog films for Sega and has several other game adaptations in development.
Toru Nakahara, a producer at Sega, is also attached as an executive producer, ensuring a direct link to the franchise's owner and original developer, Atlus. The project remains in early development, with no casting or release details announced.
Persona 5 character art
Adapting the RPG Franchise: From Persona 5 to the Phantom Thieves
Adapting the RPG Franchise: From Persona 5 to the Phantom Thieves
The source material for the upcoming Netflix series is the critically acclaimed Persona RPG franchise, with the most recent and popular entry, Persona 5, likely serving as a primary inspiration. According to Variety’s report, the specific plot direction for the live-action adaptation is currently unknown. The show could directly adapt a particular game or forge an original narrative using the series' extensive lore.
The Persona franchise, owned by Sega and Atlus, began in 1996 and includes five mainline games alongside numerous spin-offs and remakes. The most recent mainline entry, Persona 5, introduced the fan-favorite group known as the Phantom Thieves. Initially released in 2016, the story was expanded and refined in the 2020 release Persona 5 Royal, which deepened the narrative and character arcs.
The core cast of the Phantom Thieves.
This provides the production team, led by showrunner Christopher Monfette, with a wealth of material. The core premise of Persona 5 follows a group of high school students who become the Phantom Thieves, using supernatural abilities to combat corruption by entering a metaphysical realm. The series blends traditional JRPG mechanics with a deep, character-driven story set against modern Tokyo, offering a rich template for a live-action drama.
Given the early stage of development, no official decisions on narrative focus have been announced. However, the report notes that the potential for characters and story elements from across the franchise—especially from the globally successful Persona 5—to be incorporated is high. Fans are already speculating on which elements might transition to the screen.
Netflix’s Gaming Strategy: Following Stranger Things and Sonic's Success
The Phantom Thieves of Persona 5
Netflix’s Gaming Strategy: Following Stranger Things and Sonic's Success
This adaptation continues Netflix's established strategy of partnering with proven production teams experienced in major video game and genre properties. The involvement of 21 Laps and Story Kitchen connects the project to two of the most successful franchises in recent entertainment history.
Netflix has a successful track record with 21 Laps, the production company behind its flagship series Stranger Things. This collaboration provides a foundation in high-concept, character-driven genre storytelling. Story Kitchen brings direct video game adaptation expertise, having been involved in the production of Sega's commercially successful Sonic the Hedgehog film series.
The Persona series is poised for a significant future beyond this adaptation. Atlus recently revealed the highly anticipated Persona 6 at the Xbox Games Showcase, confirming the mainline franchise's ongoing expansion. This live-action series represents another major pillar in broadening the Persona brand's reach across different media formats.