Leading Japanese publishing house Kodansha has struck a deal with new production company Majestic Limited for a feature film adaptation of its “Origin” comic.
Created by Boichi (“Dr. Stone,” “Sun-Ken Rock”), a renown Korean manga artist (real name Park Mu-jik) who is based in Japan, “Origin” is set in a near-future where humanity has achieved incredible advancements in technology and robotics. It tells a story of self-discovery, morality, and what it means to be human.
Winning the grand prize for manga at the 22nd Japan Media Arts Festival and currently only printed abroad, the English translation of “Origin” hit U.S. shelves only in late November.
Majestic was founded by Josh Boone (“The Fault in Our Stars,” “The Stand”), Danny Chan (“Barbarian,” “Freelance”) and Darius Shahmir (“Midnight Special,” “The Big Five”). Boone directed $300 million grossing 2014 Fox Searchlight hit “The Fault in Our Stars” on a budget of $12 million. Indie horror “Barbarian” grossed $45 million for New Regency.
Kodansha is one of Japan’s three largest publishing houses and has innovatedin manga and animation for several decades. It retains a dynamic roster of artists and collaborators working across many genres and platforms. It content has been adapted by stables including Netflix and Disney+. Its U.S. subsidiary publishes English-language manga and Japan-based fiction and non-fiction books.
“We are extremely proud to be working with Kodansha and Boichi on ‘Origin.’ This project will redefine the boundaries of manga and entertainment, while delivering an unforgettable experience to fans worldwide. We believe this collaboration will leave an indelible mark on the industry and allow new ancillary avenues to open up along the way,” said Shahmir.
“Kodansha has always been dedicated to pushing the boundaries of creativity and storytelling by delivering our stories through various media. We are excited to bring a new form of ‘Origin,’ an amazing sci-fi story created by Boichi-sensei, to the global audiences, and to collaborate with Majestic, said Takami Yohei, head of Kodansha’s rights and media business unit.
