Death Note live action movie picked up by Netflix

Do not fear, Death Note fans, Netflix is here to save the day!

After Warner Bros dropped current production on an American adaptation of the best-selling manga, reports are surfacing that Netflix has obtained the rights to the film. It is reported that Warner Bros stopped production on the film after concerns about audience reception. Although Netflix is known for its television series, primarily focusing on Marvel characters, it continues to add to its film repertoire. Lionsgate, another studio known for its film franchises, originally looked at the film. In the end it was Netflix that secured the nearly $50 million dollar deal. Adam Wingard, who also directed the 2011 horror thriller You’re Next, is set to direct the film. Only two characters have been cast thus far: Nat Wollf as Light Yagami, and Margaret Qualley as Misa Amane.

Death Note is no stranger to the big or little screen. In 2006, a live action Death Note released in select theaters worldwide and was distributed by Warner Bros Japan. It later inspired two sequels and a spin-off film about L, the series’ mysterious detective protagonist. The manga series has also spawned an anime, a mini series, multiple tv movies, and even a musical. A fourth Death Note movie is in production in Japan and will be released October 29, 2016.

Currently, the film is listed as being ‘pre-production’ on the official IMDB page and Warner Bros is still listed on the page as the production studio, though I imagine in the next couple of days that will change after the negotiations settle. While Netflix has not released an official statement, insiders say that the deal is done. Although the plot summary on the IMDB page follows the manga, there may yet be updates to the nature of the synopsis not present in the original manga.  The film does not yet have a release date.

Author: Bekah

Bekah has a B.F.A. in Theatre Performance from Anderson University and is the Executive Assistant at Saga Event Planning. She is a frequent convention attendee and cosplayer and co-hosts The Geekiary webcast “The Bitching Dead”.

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