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Sony Acquires Live-Action Blood: The Last Vampire's U.S. Rights (Update 3)

Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group has acquired all North American rights to East Wing Holdings Corp. and SAJ's live-action film adaptation of Production I.G's Blood: The Last Vampire anime film. Samuel Goldwyn Films will release film in American theaters this summer. South Korea's Jeon Ji-hyun (under her English name, Gianna Jun) plays the main character Saya, a 16-year-old sword-wielding girl hunting down supernatural creatures. Japanese actress Koyuki plays her opponent Onigen. Sony has already launched the official North American website for the film with a trailer.

Mamoru Oshii (Ghost in the Shell films, Mobile Police Patlabor, Avalon) conceived the anime's original story, which Kenji Kamiyama (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Eden of the East, Moribito - Guardian of the Spirit) turned into a screenplay for director Hiroyuki Kitakubo ( JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Robot Carnival's "A Tale of Two Robots," Roujin Z). Hong Kong's Ronny Yu adapted Kamiyama's script for live-action, and Chris Nahon directed the new version.

The live-action film will open in Japan on May 29 (under the title Last Blood), in the United Kingdom on June 12, and then in France on June 17. It will also open in Hong Kong, Singapore, Korea and other countries in June. Samuel Goldwyn Films submitted the film to the Motion Picture Association of America for an R rating for “strong bloody stylized violence."

Source: IGN, ScreenDaily.com via animeanime.jp

Update: More background information and image added.

Update 2: Manga Entertainment released the original Blood: The Last Vampire anime film in North America, while Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is releasing the Blood+ television anime series. Viz Media published the graphic novel sequel to the first movie, and Dark Horse Comics is publishing the different Blood+ manga and text novel.

Update 3: Sony Pictures' official press release lists Chris Chow as the writer of the live-action film.