Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Japanese manga series “Tiger Mask” is being adapted into a live-action feature for the international market by Italy’s Fabula Pictures and Brandon Box and Japan’s Kodansha.
The popular manga, which follows a ruthless professional Japanese wrestler named Naoto Date who after making it big in the U.S.
returns to his country and fights against evil forces, previously inspired an anime TV series made by Japan’s Toei Animation. “Tiger Mask’ is a long-beloved figure both in Japan and Italy, where he’s been [considered] a strong, cool and timeless hero since the series’ first release in 1969,” Yohei Takami, head of Kodansha’s media business rights division, said in a statement. “We are excited to be able to bring a new ‘Tiger Mask’ to global audiences, partnering with respected Italian filmmakers sharing the love and passion for ‘Tiger Mask’ with us, like Fabula Pictures and Brandon Box,” he added.
The project marks a first foray in the manga genre space for Fabula, the prominent Rome-based company headed by Nicola and Marco de Angelis and controlled by Pascal Breton’s Paris-based Federation Entertainment.
Read more on variety.com