The Walking Dead Distributor to Adapt Black Jack Manga for TV
Black Jack is coming to a TV near you.
Entertainment One has acquired the worldwide rights to a television series based on the popular Japanese manga. The LA/Toronto-based indie studio, that produces ABC’s Rookie Blue and distributes AMC’s The Walking Dead, plans a possible live action series of the classic 1970/80s comic by Osamu Tezuka. Taka Ichise and Doug Davison, who worked together on Western adaptations of the Japanese movies The Ring and The Grudge, will executive produce the series for eOne.
Dave Brown and Zadoc Angell of Artist International, who packaged the project, will also executive produce. Michael Rosenberg, Jen Chambers and Adam Blumberg will oversee the show on behalf of the indie studio.
Since its first appearance in Japan in 1973, the Black Jack series has followed the adventures of its doctor/detective title character against terrorists and a global conspiracy. The Black Jack manga comics have sold over 50 million copies in Japan and are a cult hit around the world with a translated version available in the U.S. Tezuka is also known for his other characters of Astro Boy and Kimba the White Lion.
There was an animated Japanese Black Jack TV series in 2004, as well as the Black Jack 21 spin-off in 2006. A first animated Black Jack film came out in 1996 and Black Jack: The Two Doctors of Darkness was released in Japan in late 2005. Marty Scott & Toni Kotite brought the Black Jack spec pitch to eOne.
LOS ANGELES/TORONTO (August 2, 2012) - Leading independent studio, Entertainment One (eOne) announced today it acquired the rights to develop a television series based on the popular Japanese manga, BLACK JACK, from the legendary creator, Osamu Tezuka (Astro Boy, Kimba the White Lion). The television spec pitch was brought to eOne by Marty Scott & Toni Kotite.
Considered by many as the Japanese equivalent to Walt Disney and the Godfather of Anime, Osamu Tezuka is a legendary cartoonist, manga artist and animator. His manga, BLACK JACK, has sold over 50 million copies in Japan, and has been published and translated in dozens of countries around the world.
BLACK JACK is an action adventure story chronicling the emotional journey of the world's greatest detective-doctor, an unorthodox and sometimes questionable hero known as Black Jack, who is currently in the "employ" of a government special-ops team that investigates and fights mysterious biological and terrorist threats against the United States. Black Jack is a man with many secrets, and our only hope of battling a global conspiracy bent on changing the genetic future of mankind.
Produced by eOne, the series will be executive produced by Taka Ichise and Doug Davison, who partnered on feature adaptations of Japanese properties The Ring and The Grudge. Dave Brown and Zadoc Angell of Artist International who packaged the project will also executive produce. Michael Rosenberg, Jen Chambers and Adam Blumberg will oversee the show on behalf of eOne. eOne will handle worldwide rights to the series in all media.
Scott & Kotite most recently sold their spec pilot Cannon Fire to FBC / 20th Century Fox and penned a feature for Overbrook Films. They are represented by Artist International, Paradigm, and attorney Dave Feldman.
eOne together with Scott, Kotite and the creative team will be pitching the series to U.S. broadcasters and cable networks in Los Angeles.
eOne's current scripted series include Rookie Blue on ABC and Shaw, Call Me Fitz on DIRECTV and HBO Canada, preschool-phenom Peppa Pig on Nick Jr., The Walking Dead on AMC, Hell on Wheels on AMC, Saving Hope on NBC and CTV and the upcoming suspense-drama starring Thandie Newton Rogue on DIRECTV, The Movie Network and Movie Central.
Through strong relationships with broadcasters and content providers, eOne Television International has successfully sold eOne's original and third-party productions to over 500 broadcasters in 150 countries, including the major US networks and international pay TV channels.
Source: Crunchyroll & www.thefutoncritic.com