WB Hires a Writer for the 'Ninja Scroll'
Filed under: Action, Deals, Warner Brothers, Comic/Superhero/Geek
A brutally violent tale of revenge set in feudal Japan, with eye-popping nudity, rape, and, oh yeah, did I mention the buckets of blood? Of course, that makes Ninja Scroll perfect fodder for a live-action version -- further evidence that 300 was a game-changer, as if we needed more -- and that's what Warner Brothers intends to make through the auspices of Appian Way, AKA Leonardo DiCaprio's production company.
Writer Alex Tse (Watchmen, Frankie Machine) has been hired, but Leo "is not planning to act in the film," according to Variety. Leo may not be able to open an Iraq-themed action picture, but he can still get long-gestating anime adaptations into development, i.e. Akira, and now Ninja Scroll, which is set up as a co-production with Japanese company par excellence Madhouse.
Ninja Scroll was originally released in Japan in 1993 before receiving a limited theatrical run in the US in 1996. I saw it at a midnight screening; I was very tired that night, but I have vivid memories of naked women and slashing swords. Admittedly, that could describe a number of pictures; still, if I recall correctly, Ninja Scroll really moved at a good pace, so the live-action version better not be ponderous and slow.
Since Leo is, at this point, not planning to enter the world of ninjas and vengeance, who would you like to see as the ninja vagabond Jubei Kibagami? Do you think the adaptation will remain based in ancient Japanese feudal society? Or will it be unrecognizably "modernized" into a modern-day tale or, heaven forbid, transmogrified into an American revenge fantasy?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-27-2008 @ 11:49AM
Bryan said...
Don't hate me for this, but I could almost see Keanu Reeves as Jubei, almost. As cool a character as he is, Jubei is so stoic and in fact predictable, plastered to an honor code and swinging a sword, that Reeves' running and jumping and big, blue empty eyes would translate the cliche uber hero without all that much depth rather well. If not Keanu, then I could definitely see someone like Ryan Phillippe, he certainly has the physicality and I think he could bring a great deal of internal strife and rage to the revenge driven Jubei.
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10-27-2008 @ 1:29PM
ML said...
Not hating, and, in fact, I haven't yet seen Ninja Scroll (it's on my list) ... but I wouldn't say "blank" = "stoic". ;)
10-27-2008 @ 12:00PM
carg0 said...
Ninja scroll was released in theaters in '96?
O_o
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10-27-2008 @ 1:43PM
John R said...
"Or will it be unrecognizably "modernized" into a modern-day tale or, heaven forbid, transmogrified into an American revenge fantasy?"
God, I hope not. I think "Forbidden Kingom", "Speed Racer" (although it was underrated) and "Dragonball" have made it evidently clear that westernization of Asian properties just. does. not. work.
Either do it right or don't do it at all.
http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/2450/umagazinedec2007108pg11mw4.jpg
To get back to the topic, Takeshi Kaneshiro. That guy is awesome.
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10-27-2008 @ 2:44PM
Batzarro said...
I already expect it to be a PG 13 romp like the last time they did it. No wait, that was Elektra!
Seriously, though, this has potential. But I can't even begin to imagine them seriously having a rock monster raping a ninja girl or a naked seductress sorrounded by snakes. The bee guy, though, that's more likely.
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10-27-2008 @ 3:09PM
Dax.siplin@gmail.com said...
I would love to see this happen , but looking at Dragon Ball Z and the upcoming Street Fighter movie , I don't see american production companies getting the correct idea of the film.
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10-27-2008 @ 8:24PM
cough said...
Make a movie about ninjas, sure, nock yourself out. No need for remakes.
And bad remakes at that.
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10-27-2008 @ 10:39PM
Bruce Darren Acosta said...
NINJA SCROLL MOVIE TAKEN BY WARNER BROS.
Warner Bros is taken the Ninja Scroll movies rights but Threshold Entertainment had the rights and they had it in development hell for years.
Threshold should stick to do Ninja Scroll and Warner Bros to release the movie so i think Leo DiCapraio should stick to Akira.
Thank You.
BRUCE ACOSTA
AUSTRALIA.
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10-28-2008 @ 12:00AM
joits said...
one of the best animes ever but i think they're going to mess it up if they fill it with an all-white cast especially the lead. but this is the real world... you know they're never going to cast an asian in the lead of a big budget movie. i have nightmares of seeing this movie made with the same quality as dragon ball or dead or alive.
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10-28-2008 @ 11:56AM
Nova said...
How do you cast a white lead for a movie taking place in feudal Japan?? There are perfectly good Asian American actors that can take the lead, and fill out the entire cast. I'll repeat that asian american, not jet li or jackie chan or some non-sense like that. Bring in some one like Sung Kang.
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10-28-2008 @ 11:58AM
Nova said...
or you could cast some one like: Shido Nakamura, not Asian American but he seems to fit the part
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