David Farnor | On 27, Aug 2018

A sequel to anime adaptation Death Note is in the works at Netflix.

2017’s horror thriller, which was based on the classic manga, was directed by Adam Wingard (You’re Next) and starred Nat Wolff (Paper Towns), Margaret Qualley (The Leftovers), Lakeith Stanfield (Get Out), Paul Nakauchi (Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End), Shea Whigham (American Hustle) and Willem Dafoe (Spider-Man) as the voice of Ryuk.

The film followed a high school student who comes across a supernatural notebook, realizing it holds an unexpected power: if the owner inscribes someone’s name into it while picturing their face, he or she will die. Intoxicated with his new godlike abilities, the young man begins to kill those he deems unworthy of life – egged on by Death God, Ryuk

“Thrillingly twisty and darkly funny, Adam Wingard’s American take on the Death Note mythos is the latest word on the diabolical irresponsibility of adolescence,” we wrote in our review of the film.

The movie met a controversial reception, including accusations of whitewashing for remaking the Japanese story in a US setting. Nonetheless, the movie has proven popular enough to prompt Netflix to develop a follow-up.

“When I pitched the movie initially to Netflix, I definitely pitched it as at least two films, possibly three,” Wingard told us in an interview last year. “Furthermore, I think it would be really cool to do a backstory movie. The only thing right now is that I’m doing Godzilla vs Kong, which is a definitive two-and-a-half year excursion for me. So, I guess it depends on if they do want to do sequels – which I think that they do, you know, it’s just depending on, are people going to watch it? Then the only other question is, how quickly do they want to make them, will I be available, that kind of stuff.”

Now, THR has confirmed that the sequel is being worked up, with Netflix’s Ted Sarandos describing the film as a “sizeable” success. Greg Russo is penning the script.

 

Comic-Con: Netflix unveils new clip for Death Note

21st July 2017

“Shall we begin?” That’s Ryuk in the new clip from Netflix’s Death Note.

Adam Wingard’s remake of the manga follows a high school student who comes across a supernatural notebook with a great power; if the owner inscribes someone’s name into it while picturing their face, he or she will die. Intoxicated with his new godlike abilities, the young man begins to kill those he deems unworthy of life, egged on by Death God, Ryuk.

The film arrives this August, with a UK premiere at FrightFest in London. Before then, though, we’ve got a first proper look at Willem Dafoe in action as the sinister demon with a new clip.

The video was released by Wingard at Netflix’s Comic-Con panel. The director, who has previously given us You’re Next and the recent reboot-quel Blair Witch, was asked which supervillain scared him the most. “The President of the United States,” he joked.

Asked what drew him to the project, he added: “It was an opportunity to take something that had a great premise and breath life into it. In terms of what happens is so outlandish: the power to kill everything by writing their name in a book. There were cool themes here and embedded in that was good and evil.”

Death Note is released worldwide on Netflix on Friday 25th August. Watch this space for our interview with Adam Wingard.

 

Netflix’s Death Note gets new trailer and images

23rd March 2017

Netflix’s remake of Death Note is edging closer – and now, we have a better look at what the end result will be, thanks to a new trailer and some fresh photos.

Based on the manga written by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata, Death Note follows a high school student who comes across a supernatural notebook, realizing it holds within it a great power; if the owner inscribes someone’s name into it while picturing their face, he or she will die. Intoxicated with his new godlike abilities, the young man begins to kill those he deems unworthy of life.

Here’s the new trailer:

The Netflix original film is directed by Adam Wingard (Blair Witch, You’re Next) and stars Nat Wolff (Paper Towns), Margaret Qualley (The Leftovers), Lakeith Stanfield (Get Out), Paul Nakauchi (Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End), Shea Whigham (American Hustle) and Willem Dafoe (Spider-Man) as the voice of Ryuk.

Death Note will premiere exclusively on Friday 25th August to Netflix members worldwide. Here are the new pictures, which include Wolff, Stanfield, Adam Wingard on set and a close glimpse of Death God, Ryuk:

 

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Netflix unveils trailer for Death Note remake

23rd March 2017

Netflix has unveiled the trailer for its Death Note remake.

The film, which is based on the famous Japanese manga written by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata,follows a high school student who comes across a supernatural notebook, realizing it holds an unexpected power: if the owner inscribes someone’s name into it while picturing their face, he or she will die. Intoxicated with his new godlike abilities, the young man begins to kill those he deems unworthy of life.

The horror stars Nat Wolff (Paper Towns), Margaret Qualley (The Leftovers), Lakeith Stanfield (Get Out), Paul Nakauchi (Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End), Shea Whigham (American Hustle) and Willem Dafoe (Spider-Man). That cast list, though, has come under fire this week, with fans of the original anime angry that Netflix has recast the story’s main characters as white Americans. The video lands at the same time that Netflix’s Iron Fist series is also facing similar criticism of white-washing.

Behind the camera, though, there is still some promise, with Adam Wingard (of You’re Next and The Guest) helming the big-budget live-action adaptation. We’ll be able to find out what the end result is like on 25th August, when the movie premieres worldwide on the streaming service.

In the meantime, here’s the trailer:

 

Shea Whigham joins Netflix’s Death Note

14th July 2016

Shea Whigham has joined the cast of Netlix’s Death Note.

Directed by Adam Wingard, the film, based on the popular manga, follows a student, Light Turner, who discovers a notebook that kills anyone whose name is written within it.

Whigham will play James Turner, the father of Light, who is also an internal affairs officer.

Whigham will be known to TV fans as a Boardwalk Empire alum, who will soon be seen in HBO’s new comedy series, Vice Principals.

Deadline

Adam Wingard’s Death Note begins principal photography

11th July 2016

Filming is now underway for Adam Wingard’s Death Note, Netflix has announced.

Principal photography for the project kicked off at the end of June, with the You’re Next director’s latest set to shoot in Canada and the US. The film is based on the famous Japanese manga by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata and follows a high school student, who comes across a supernatural notebook and realises that it holds within it a great power; if the owner inscribes someone’s name into it while picturing their face, he or she will die. Intoxicated with his new abilities, the young man begins to kill those he deems unworthy of life.

The movie stars Nat Wolff (Paper Towns, The Fault in Our Stars) as Light Turner; Margaret Qualley (The Nice Guys, The Leftovers) as Mia Sutton; Keith Stanfield (Straight Outta Compton, Dope, Short Term 12) as “L”; Paul Nakauchi (Alpha and Omega) as Watari; and Shea Whigham (Agent Carter, Boardwalk Empire) as James Turner.

The film is produced by Roy Lee (The Ring, The Departed), Dan Lin (The Lego Movie, Sherlock Holmes), Jason Hoffs (Edge of Tomorrow), and Masi Oka (Heroes Reborn, Hawaii-Five-0). Miri Yoon (Behaving Badly), Jonathan Eirich (Hammerspace), John Powers Middleton (Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, The Lego Movie), and Brendan Ferguson (Big Eyes, Reasonable Doubt) are executive producers.

“I am honored to be working with this great cast and I look forward to bringing Tsugumi and Takeshi’s unique story to a global audience,” says director Adam Wingard.

“Our vision for Death Note has always been to bring this captivating story to the screen for its longtime manga fans and to introduce the world to this dark and mysterious masterpiece. The talent and diversity represented in our cast, writing, and producing teams reflect our belief in staying true to the story’s concept of moral relevance — a universal theme that knows no racial boundaries,” add producers Roy Lee and Dan Lin.

Death Note will premiere globally on Netflix in 2017.

Adam Wingard’s Death Note heads to Netflix

7th April 2016

Netflix is in final talks to snap up the rights to Adam Wingard’s Death Note.

The deal, which is expected to close without problems, will see the feature film from the You’re Next director move to the streaming service from its previous home at Warner Bros.

Based on the Japanese manga series, which has already been adapted into a movie in its home country, the project has been in some stage of production for years. Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang director Shane Black signed up to direct the film back in 2011, before Wingard eventually took the helm in 2015. Just as production seemed about to get underway, though, with Paper Towns actor Nat Wolff attached to star, Warner Bros. apparently made the decision this month to produce fewer films, following the lacklustre performance of Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice. As a result, Warner Bros. put Death Note into turnaround.

Other studios looked at buying the property within 48 hours of the decision, but Netflix reportedly emerged at the front of the pack. Insiders told The Wrap that Netflix promised to make the movie if Wingard entered exclusive negotiations with them. The unnamed sources said that Warner Bros. has been “very supportive given the situation”, agreeing to let Wingard and co. shop the project elsewhere because of the long-winded road it had been down already.

Wolff will play a student who finds a supernatural notebook that allows him to kill anyone simply by writing their name in it. When a police officer begins to track him, a cat-and-mouse game ensues.

Wolff is joined by The Leftovers’ Margaret Qualley and War Machine star Keith Stanfield is also reportedly lined up for a part, although he has not been given an official offer yet.

The script’s most recent draft is penned by Fantastic Four’s Jeremy Slater, with Roy Lee, Dan Lin, Jason Hoffs and Masi Oka producing, alongside exec producers Doug Davison and Brian Witten.

The negotiations mark Netflix’s continued expansion of its original content production arm. While it still remains a highly active purchaser on the festival circuit, Death Note joins a slate of projects such as War Machine, produced by and starring Brad Pitt, and Bright, which stars Will Smith and was acquired for more than $90 million last month. Variety pegs the Death Note deal for a less, but no less substantial, figure of between $40 million and $50 million.

Production is expected to start in June 2016, with a 2017 release date likely.

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