The U.S. Getting its Own Birthright
Another Americanized version of a J-horror film is on its way (yes, they still do that), this time in the form of a remake of Birthright (known in Japan as Saitai). Read on for all the early details, and look for more soon.
From the Press Release:
All Nippon Entertainment Works (ANEW), along with award-winning Japanese production company Wilco Co., Ltd., and multi-box office hit filmmakers Depth of Field, will adapt, develop, and produce the Japanese horror thriller BIRTHRIGHT for the English-language market.
Targeted toward teens as well as adults, ANEW’s latest feature further underscores the global entertainment studio’s commitment to establish a cultural bridge between Japan’s leading creative companies and prominent Hollywood community filmmakers, as well as to bring fresh and compelling Japanese IP to audiences internationally.
“Our newest endeavor, BIRTHRIGHT, not only marks the establishment of a new and valued relationship with Naoki Hashimoto’s Wilco, but the continuation of a collaborative partnering with Depth of Field,” ANEW’s Senior Vice President, Creative Affairs, Annmarie Bailey said.
The original BIRTHRIGHT was produced, directed, and written by Naoki Hashimoto and released in 2011 as SAITAI. It screened at the 14th Shanghai International Film Festival in China, where it received a Special Jury Honor in the Asian New Talent competition. Mr. Hashimoto is working with Depth of Field partner and producer Andrew Miano and producer/creative executive Dan Balgoyen to adapt the story. Independent filmmakers Dallas Hallam and Patrick Horvath, who jointly directed and, with others, co-produced the acclaimed 2012 horror thriller ENTRANCE, have signed on to write the English language adaptation of BIRTHRIGHT.
This reborn version of BIRTHRIGHT focuses on a suburban mother who invites a stranger into the family, only to learn the young woman may be the daughter she secretly abandoned at birth. It becomes clear the stranger is hiding dangerous secrets of her own, which has a profound impact on the woman, her husband, and their 15-year-old daughter.
“It is extremely gratifying to see SAITAI be provided the opportunity to achieve commercial success internationally, even though it wasn’t why I originally made this project,” Naoki Hashimoto said. “I have long believed Japanese culture deserves a wider audience so I am looking forward to collaborating with the Depth of Field team to adapt this story into English, and I appreciate the ANEW’s passion in bringing Japanese stories to a global audience.”
“We immediately responded to BIRTHRIGHT, specifically its artfully sinister look at the nature of family and the innate human desire to be loved,” Depth of Field’s Dan Balgoyen said. “With ANEW and Wilco, we plan to evolve these themes further through Dallas and Patrick’s adaptation of Mr. Hashimoto’s original film.”
In addition to the recently announced GHOST TRAIN, ANEW projects include SOUL ReVIVER, in association with Fields Corp. and filmmaker partners Edward Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz of Bedford Falls Prods., and a live action remake of TOEI Animation’s robot anime GAIKING, with producer Gale Ann Hurd’s Valhalla Entertainment, Inc.
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