Live Action Kaiji Movie in Development

Reportedly the Watarase Film Commission, which supports motion picture production in Japan’s Gunma prefecture, briefly posted a public call for extras to participate in the filming of a live action movie adaptation of Nobuyuki Fukumoto’s gambling suspense manga series Kaiji. According to the listing, the film is to be directed by Toya Sato, the director of the live action Gokusen television series, and star Tatsuya Fujiwara (Light in the live action Death Note movies) as the desperate gambler Itou Kaiji. The film is reportedly planned for a summer 2009 release.

Development of a live action Kaiji movie has not been officially confirmed, and the Watarase Film Commission’s casting call was quickly retracted after word of it spread through the Japanse anime/manga fan community.

Madhouse adapted the Kaiji manga series into a 26 episode anime television series that aired on Japanese television from October 2007 until April 2008.

Source: Anime News Network