Spielberg’s DreamWorks to remake ‘Yomigaeri’
A new remake of a Japanese smash hit is in development over at DreamWorks and it’s a horror movie with a sci-fi element, but the horror elements aren’t really scary. Variety is reporting that Yomigaeri, a fantasy based on Shinji Kajio’s novel has had its rights acquired from Tokyo Broadcasting System by the house that Spielberg built. William Nicholson (”Gladiator“) is writing the screenplay while DreamWorks is eyeing a late 2008 start date.
A quick synopsis of the original film:
A boy who died during World War II turns up at the door of his now-ancient mother, looking the same, down to his burr haircut, as he did 58 years ago. Heita (Tsuyoshi Kusanagi), an elite bureaucrat for the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, is called in to investigate and is flummoxed by what he discovers. But when he discusses the case with Aoi (Yuko Takeuchi), a colleague and childhood friend, she is brusquely dismissive. The number of cases keeps growing, however.
DreamWorks Grabs Rights for ‘Ghost in the Shell’ Manga
DreamWorks Pictures has acquired rights to the Japanese manga Ghost in the Shell with plans to adapt the futuristic police thriller as a 3-D live-action feature. Avi Arad, Ari Arad and Steven Paul of Seaside Entertainment are attached to produce and brought the project to the studio. Jamie Moss has been hired to write the adaptation.”‘Ghost in the Shell’ is one of my favorite stories,” Spielberg said. “It’s a genre that has arrived, and we enthusiastically welcome it to DreamWorks.”
DreamWorks president of production Adam Goodman said “Ghost in the Shell” is a property “that epitomizes 3-D live-action motion picture possibilities.”
Plot Concept:
The story follows the exploits of a member of a covert ops unit of the Japanese National Public Safety Commission that specializes in fighting technology-related crime.
Created by Masamune Shirow, “Ghost in the Shell” was first published in 1989. It went on to generate two additional manga editions, three anime film adaptations, an anime TV series and three video games. The second anime film, Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence, was released in the U.S. by DreamWorks in 2004.
