Samuel L. Jackson Co-Producing Live Action AFRO SAMURAI Film
by Jason Barr Posted:July 21st, 2011 at 10:59 am
Having voiced the character for both its anime mini-series and TV movie, Afro Samurai: Resurrection, Samuel L. Jackson is now moving to the producers chair (they get chairs, right?) for the propertys live action feature film debut. Per the press release we received, Jackson has teamed up with The Indomina Group to bring the character to the silver screen. The plan is to have a writer and director attached to the pic this summer with casting to be shored up by the end of the year. The pic will shoot in the Dominican Republic in 2012.
For those unfamiliar, Afro Samurai was originally a manga series written/illustrated by Takashi Okazaki. The series centers on Afro Samurai, a hero with a familiar origin: after witnessing his father killed by a gunslinger named Justice as a youngster, adult Afro dedicates himself to avenging his fathers untimely death. In 2009, Afro Samurai: Resurrection won an Emmy for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation. If youd like a little more on the project, hit the jump to check out the official press release.
Heres the press release:
Los Angeles, CA July 21, 2011 It was announced today that The Indomina Group, the fast-growing U.S. and Dominican Republic based producer and distributor of film, TV and trans-media content, is teaming with Samuel L. Jackson and Gonzo Studios to produce a new live action film based on the popular Afro Samurai animated series that has spawned an impressive franchise and a global following. The announcement was made by Indomina Group Vice Chairman and CEO Jasbinder Singh Mann who will serve as producer with Samuel L. Jackson and Gonzo Studios Shin Ishikawa. Eli Selden of Anonymous Content is executive producing.
Academy Award® nominee Samuel L. Jackson has been close to the franchise for a number of years having voiced Afro Samurai for the 2007 anime TV mini-series Afro Samurai and again for the 2009 Emmy® winning animated TV movie Afro Samurai: Resurrection.
Said Jackson, This has been one of my very favorite properties ever since our amazing debut at Comic Con with the original series pilot out of Japan. I cant wait to produce the epic feature film version with our new partners at The Indomina Group.
When Indomina was launched, Afro Samurai was quickly identified as the perfect property for us to option and exploit through our vertical channels targeted to a fanboy audience, said Singh Mann. We never took our eyes off the property and are very pleased to not only have the opportunity now to make an extraordinary film, but to do it with Samuel L. Jackson, who is just as passionate about Afro Samurai as we are. This is a perfect collaboration in the eyes of Indomina. We look forward to going to work with Sam and Gonzo on this and making something discernibly unique.
Producers plan to attach a writer and director this summer and complete casting by the end of the year. The film will be shot at Pinewood Indomina Studios in the Dominican Republic in 2012.
Indomina optioned the rights to Afro Samurai from Japanese rights holder Gonzo and will make Afro Samurai the first feature film production from The Indomina Group, which over the last six months has debuted its North American distribution arm (Indomina Releasing), international sales division (Indomina International) and Studio operations and facilities (Pinewood Indomina Studios).
Stacey Smart Stanley is overseeing the projects development for Indomina while Chris Carlisle will be point person for Gonzo.
