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Matsumoto: Korean Harlock Film Planned Without Consent
posted on by Egan Loo
Leiji Matsumoto, the legendary creator of Space Battleship Yamato and Galaxy Express 999, expressed bewilderment over a Korean company's plans to adapt his Space Pirate Captain Harlock manga into a film and said, "This is premature. I have not given my consent to a movie adaptation." The company Eight Peaks (Princess Hours live-action drama) announced on April 10 that it signed an agreement with Japan's Genome Entertainment to make a live-action film. The proposed film is budgeted at US$100 million (about 10 billion yen).
Matsumoto's original science fiction story centers on a honorable pirate captain who voyages across space in the year 2977. The manga ran in Play Comic from 1977 to 1979. It has already been adapted into three television series, two theatrical movies, and one video series.
Matsumoto told the Mainichi Shimbun paper that he knew about the announcement, but he was not directly and formally notified about it. Furthermore, he said that he did not give his consent. He added that he has received various proposals, including some overseas ones, for Harlock film adaptations, but this is the first time he has heard about the Korean plan. He said that since this is still premature, he is worried.
Thank you to Kumi Kaoru for the news tip.
