Japanese advertising agency Dentsu and Hayakawa Publishing Corp. have entered into a rights deal for a live-action feature Japanese sci-fi novels that have attracted the interest of Transformers producer Don Murphy and Shoot ‘Em Up director Michael Davis. The deals were brokered by Joyce Jun of Katten Muchin Rosenman.
Angry Films principal Murphy plans to develop an adaptation of sci-fi author Issui Ogawa's novel Tokisuna no Ou or The Lord of the Sands of Time, which Hayakawa published in 2007.
Time-travel war novel takes place in the 26th century after human life on Earth has been annihilated by alien invaders. Story follows a messenger who is sent back to the past to battle the aliens.
“I see enormous potential in the unique and vast scale of this work and in the story that describes the love between a messenger from the future and the shaman queen of a bygone era,” Murphy said.
In addition, Davis has agreed to direct and produce Mardock Scramble, based on the popular novel by author Tow Ubukata. An animated adaptation was a box office hit in Japan, and the sequel will be released this fall.
Story follows a young prostitute who acquires the ability to interfere with electronics and teams with a shape-shifting mouse to exact revenge on the crime boss who nearly killed her.
Murphy is currently developing a Captain Planet movie. He most recently produced DreamWorks' family film Real Steel, which grossed nearly $300 million worldwide.
Dentsu aims to bring Japanese art forms such as manga, anime and other printed content to global audience through film and TV productions. And we cheer for them.
