The constantly growing Indomina Group has been impressing me more and more as of late. Their distribution arm has been acquiring some great stuff but now the production side is beginning to really shine as well. Last Thursday, Inomina announced that it would be teaming up with the one and only Samuel L Jackson and the Japanese anime studio, Gonzo Studios, for a live action Afro Samurai movie.
Jackson originally voiced Afro Samurai for the TV mini-series in 2007 and for the 2009 made for TV animated film. Although Jackson is listed as being only a producer on the film, I really would love to have him take the lead on this one even if if he is a bit old for the part. If, for some reason, he doesn’t take a role in the film I’m thinking Michael Jai White would be the perfect fit due to his martial arts abilities.
Check out the full press release from Indomina below which features a few more details and quotes.
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 can’t 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 project’s development for Indomina while Chris Carlisle will be the point person for Gonzo Studios.
For more information please visit www.afrosamuraithemovie.com
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