Death Note: Going American -- Thoughts?

[Sick Little Puppet]

The production notes for the recent horror films Shutter and The Strangers both reveal that America's Vertigo Entertainment is developing a remake of the Death Note franchise and has hired Vlas and Charles Parlapanides to write the screenplay. In Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata's hit Death Note manga, a teenager finds a notebook with which he can put people to death by writing their names. He begins a self-anointed crusade against the criminals of the world, and a cat-and-mouse game begins with the authorities and one idiosyncratic genius detective.

Vertigo Entertainment (no relation to DC Comics' Vertigo imprint or the United Kingdom's Vertigo Films) has developed or is developing remakes of Ju-on (The Grudge), Dark Water, Infernal Affairs (The Departed), Gin gwai (The Eye), Shutter, My Sassy Girl, Jungdok (Possession), and Janghwa, Hongryeon (The Uninvited). The Parlapanides brothers are writers and executive producers of Undercover, an update of the 21 Jump Street television series which is under development for The CW network.

The Death Note manga has already been adapted into two Japanese live-action films with one spinoff film, an animated television series, assorted television specials, and novels. Viz Media is releasing the manga, the anime series, and a novel, while Viz Pictures released the first Japanese live-action film in theaters in May.

Okay  people, I know this has probably been rehashed too many times to count - but seeing as a script is already in the works, I think we have no choice but to admit this is happening. What are you thoughts? Dream cast?

[Greg Hines]

Okay  people, I know this has probably been rehashed too many times to count - but seeing as a script is already in the works, I think we have no choice but to admit this is happening. What are you thoughts? Dream cast?

I'm sorry to say that a script being in the works by no means implies that anything will come to fruition. A script may be optioned; have a lead actor, director, and producer attached; and have millions of dollars of funding secured... and yet still never be made. Until a movie gets that greenlight, there's just no certainty.

That said, if it's the company that did The Grudge and The Departed, there's a decent chance the movie won't end up a complete train wreck if it actually gets made.

[Sick Little Puppet]

Ah really? I have no idea how these things work so I just assumed... ah well. Anyone- I guess that's true, but I just can't help but worry. Got any ideas on cast members? I mean there has been the absolutely ludicrous rumor that Zac Effron had been considered for Light - but seeing as the funding doesn't seem to have been secured then that likely was just a bored otaku. However - I actually think Zac could do very well. I realize that the role would be completely different from his HSM one for which he is known best, but Zac has done other (and much more serious) roles. He could do it... maybe.

[toadstoolssecretluvchild]

the need someone who's a goody two-shoes type with an evil streak, and i dont see that kid doin that at all. 

[Kari Kitsune]

I think if they were to seriously consider him, it'd be because of how much those two look alike. Also, never judge an actor by their break-out role. Type-casting is one of the worst curses an actor can get and if Zac Effron can avoid it by getting pegged as Light, more power to him.

[spoiler][/spoiler]

[Greg Hines]

The studio could certainly do worse than Zac Effron in terms of marketability. I've never seen the kid act but you can guarantee he'll draw a crowd of teenage girls--including those that have never even heard of anime. It's called "star power" and he's got it for a certain segment of the populace.

[Sick Little Puppet]

Ah but will they try to fluff up death note to make it appeal more the Zac's leagues of fan girls? I hate to stereotype but most of the people who love HSM don't seem the type to like psychological thrillers like Death Note.

[Sick Little Puppet]

I think if they were to seriously consider him, it'd be because of how much those two look alike. Also, never judge an actor by their break-out role. Type-casting is one of the worst curses an actor can get and if Zac Effron can avoid it by getting pegged as Light, more power to him.

[spoiler][/spoiler]

Lol twins! Seriously though, the resemblence is remarkable. I'm wondering about the other characters too though... like who would be a good Misa-misa? Also, I wonder if they'll follow the same line as the original Japanese and cut Mello and Near out - or are they going include them in the hopes of connecting better to Americans?

[toadstoolssecretluvchild]

Ah but will they try to fluff up death note to make it appeal more the Zac's leagues of fan girls? I hate to stereotype but most of the people who love HSM don't seem the type to like psychological thrillers like Death Note.

oh thats what we need, more squealing fangirls that are only there cause of sir effron and dont even care about what is actually goin on, just that he's cute and now is acting edgy so that makes him more cool.


the misa thing does pose a good question though cause which way would they take into account. in the anime she was blonde, in the movies she was a black haired beauty. hmmm. who would have that whole crazy-borderline stalker-ish chic, that talks too much, but still cute enough to care about cause she gots the sex appeal

[Sick Little Puppet]

I think I'd gag if they had one of the more popular teen actors play her. Can yoou imagine? Ashley Tisdale? Linsy Lohan? *shudders*

[Greg Hines]

oh thats what we need, more squealing fangirls that are only there cause of sir effron and dont even care about what is actually goin on, just that he's cute and now is acting edgy so that makes him more cool.

Well, I'll be honest: I'm not sure that's a bad thing. It greatly increases the movie's chance of being "successful" (financially) at the box office, which can only be a good thing for the future of such movies. If we actually *want* more domestic adaptations to come the big screen, we should be hoping this movie does well, regardless of whether it's rabid Zac Effron fangirls that are the direct cause of its success.

Success for this movie means more adaptations get made and they get higher and higher budgets, which (usually) means better movies. There are worse things to happen to anime adaptations than Zac Effron.

[toadstoolssecretluvchild]

I think I'd gag if they had one of the more popular teen actors play her. Can yoou imagine? Ashley Tisdale? Linsy Lohan? *shudders*

eww. one of my keywords there was "sex appeal"

also it would be best if they actually knew how to act. i would like to see if they cg the gods of death like before

Well, I'll be honest: I'm not sure that's a bad thing. It greatly increases the movie's chance of being "successful" (financially) at the box office, which can only be a good thing for the future of such movies. If we actually *want* more domestic adaptations to come the big screen, we should be hoping this movie does well, regardless of whether it's rabid Zac Effron fangirls that are the direct cause of its success.

Success for this movie means more adaptations get made and they get higher and higher budgets, which (usually) means better movies. There are worse things to happen to anime adaptations than Zac Effron.

i do hope it does well i just dont wanna squeeing fangirls next to me this time

[Greg Hines]

i do hope it does well i just dont wanna squeeing fangirls next to me this time

Wait until after opening weekend, then. It's usually only in the first weekend that you have the uber-obsessed that will scream, cheer, and giggle at their favorite little things. They're given the latitude to do so on opening weekend. Normal people won't put up with that kind of crap any other time.

[Sick Little Puppet]

Okay, so I've done my research and here's who I've found as possible cast members...

[spoiler]
 
For Light -Chace Crawford has been suggested and while he does kinda look the part, I have no idea what his acting abilities are so... I'm not entirely sold but he seems to be the most popular choice after Zac.


For Mello - Michael Pitt. Again I dunno what his experience is but he struck me as a very Mello guy, especially in this picture.


For Near - Liam Aiken. He's a fair actor and with white hair he'd make a pretty good Near inpersonator, even though Near is about my age for most of his part in the manga... How old is Liam anyway?

 
For Mikami - Garrett Hedlund. Eh... I'm not totally sold on this guy yet but he seems to be the most popular choice.


For Misa - Hilary Duff is the most popular suggestion. I dunno though, she's kinda got the look but I just don't know if she's a good enough actress to pull Misa off...


For L - Johnny Depp has been suggested alot... he's way old for the role if you ask me, but he's the only one I've found that's been suggested and has even the slightest chance of pulling it off...

 
For Tanaka - Ashley Greene has been the most commonly suggested actor and she recently had a role in Twilight as Alice - although it was a fairly small part, for the first movie at least. Anywho - I think she'd do pretty well actually... she has the look and is a good enough actress to pull it off, at least I think she is.

[/spoiler]

Well, that's all I've got for now...

[Sick Little Puppet]

i do hope it does well i just dont wanna squeeing fangirls next to me this time

Egads, that was awful at Twilight. Screaming wanna be emos and hipsters, cheering everytime the leads kissed or at every not-really-all-that-funny funny moment.

[toadstoolssecretluvchild]

Chace Crawford thats one of the guys who i could "Face" but didnt know who the heck we has. at least he knows how to act though.

Hillary Duff......possibly

[Sick Little Puppet]

You see my problem. Hillary Duff has the look (kinda... I don't look at her and think OMG it's Misa, but I recognize that there is a resembleance), but I haven't seen her in anything as difficult as Death Note. Misa as a character has a lot of subtle traits that she just wouldn't be the same character without.

[toadstoolssecretluvchild]

hmmm i had a thought earlier how about they dont try to cram every character into being some "A list" celeb type. they can keep that Effron around for Light and maybe one more but other than that just find some young talent that doesnt have a big break yet.  like Ellen Page. she was kitty pryde for stint in that xmen movie and then the other big thing you ever did was Juno and she was awesome 

[Sick Little Puppet]

Oh yeah, she did Smart People too - she's a great actress but it seems like everyone forgets about her.

[ReiMei]

Personally, I don't really like the idea of an American live action Death Note movie... I heard Zac Effron is going to be Raito, but thats just what I heard. They look really similar, but still. I don't know if it will turn out very well.. Thats just me.

I dunno what actors I would chose as the cast if I could chose .___.'