Director Named for US Remake of Death Note

Steve Barton |

Jan 13, 2011

For those of you out there who missed the Death Note feature films, let us just say this — see these flicks immediately. They’re nothing short of stellar and are easily up there with some of the best Japanese imports we’ve ever gotten here in the States. Of course since they were so good, an American remake is on the way, and we’ve got the scoop on who’ll be at the helm.

According to Deadline Hollywood Warner Bros. has hired Shane Black (writer Lethal Weapon, Lethal Weapon 2, Monster Squad, The Last Boy Scout, Last Action Hero) to direct a live action adaptation of the Japanese manga series Death Note.

Black will oversee a script that’s being written by Anthony Bagarozzi and Charles Mondry, his accomplices on Doc Savage, a drama he’ll direct for Sony Pictures Entertainment. Dan Lin, Roy Lee, Doug Davison and Brian Witten are producing Death Note.

Written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata, Death Note was originally published in Japan and later collected in 12 trade paperbacks that have sold more than 38 million copies worldwide. The protagonist, Light, is a bright student who stumbles across a mystical notebook that has the power to kill any person whose name he writes in it. Light decides to launch a secret crusade to rid the streets of criminals. Soon, the student-turned-vigilante finds himself pursued by a famous FBI criminal profiler known only by the alias L.

Death Note is wildly popular in Japan and has been turned into live action and animated films, an animated TV series, novels and vidgames. The trio of live action films were distributed by Warner Bros. Japan. Warner Bros. acquired the manga rights from Shueisha and previously got a script draft from Charley and Vlas Parlapanides.

More soon!