Akira might be on the backburner for the time being, but that isn’t stopping Warner Bros. Pictures from getting into the anime and manga field. According to a press release, the studio acquired from VIZ Media the live-action feature film rights to the globally successful property Bleach, with the screenwriting process to get underway later this year.
“Bleach has built a huge international following in its manga and anime formats, and we’re excited that Warner Bros. shares our belief that Bleach can also become a fantastic live-action film,” said Jason Hoffs of VIZ Media.
Aren’t familiar with Bleach? Created by Tite Kubo, the story follows Ichigo, a teenager who has the strange ability to see ghosts. When his family is attacked by an angry soul, known as a Hollow, Ichigo encounters a Hollow hunter named Rukia. Inadvertently, Ichigo ends up absorbing Rukia’s supernatural powers, turning this reluctant teen into a hunter of malevolent spirits.
Which sounds it could be fantastic, if handed to the right creative talent. Do you believe Peter Segal, director of Get Smart and Adam Sandler’s The Longest Yard, is that creative talent? Because according to the studio’s release, Segal is producing the live-action Bleach with the potential option to direct.
No matter who’s behind the camera, it’s likely that the crowds will flock. Bleach, according to the studio’s stats, has more than 75 million copies in print in Japan, alone. And the manga book has consistently ranked on the New York Times Best Seller list in the manga category, so you know it has a powerful, built-in fan base. We’ll continue to track the film’s progress, but tell us, what do you think about a potential Bleach feature reaching theaters?
