Manga producer TOKYOPOP is making its first foray into independent film production with a live-action adaptation of its horror graphic novel, Lament of the Lamb. The film is currently in development and has been chosen as an “In The Spotlight” project at this year’s 19th Annual Tokyo International Film Festival, which will be held from Oct. 21 through Oct. 29.
Lament of the Lamb is described as a gut-wrenching chiller about a young man who shockingly discovers he may be the last in a bloodline of vampires. Created by Kei Toume and originally published in Japan by Gentosha, the manga is a metaphor for teenage alienation, twisted sexual desire and insanity.
The film will be produced by TOKYOPOP CEO and chief creative officer Stu Levy. “We are honored to be spotlighted at one of the world’s most significant film festivals,’ he comments. ‘I believe what impressed the committee most about Lament of the Lamb was the distinctive East-meets-West approach to our production. We’ll script the story in Hollywood, attach a Japanese director, cast in the West, and shoot in Eastern Europe. Clearly, this production represents what TOKYOPOP as a media company is all about, from its business model to its creative approach.’
TOKYOPOP’s previous production credits include the TV series’ Rave Master (Cartoon Network), Reign the Conqueror (Cartoon Network, Showtime), Street Fury (G4TV ) and GTO (Showtime). The company’s popular manga properties Priest and Pet Shop of Horrors were recently acquired for film adaptation by Sony Screen Gems and Focus Features, respectively.
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