Warners Wants Live-Action "Ninja Scroll"...

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Warners has acquired rights to adapt Japanese anime thriller "Ninja Scroll" into a live action feature, from a screenplay by Alex "Watchmen" Tse, produced by actor Leonardo DiCaprio's Appian Way, with Jennifer Davisson Killoran and Mike Ireland. Appian is mounting the film as a co-production with Mad House.

The original "Ninja Scroll" feature by director/writer Yoshiaki "Wicked City" Kawajiri is an homage to the 'Ninpōchō' series of ninja novels by author Futaro Yamada, with the main character 'Jubei Kibagami, a likeness of Japanese samurai folk hero 'Yagyū Jūbei'.

The film was released in North America in 1996, well-received for its depiction of Japanese legendary creatures including the 'Stone Golem' and 'Blind Assassin'.

Premise of the story follows a team of 'Koga Ninja' sent to investigate a plague in the 'Shimoda' village. On the way they are ambushed and the only survivor, a beautiful 'Kunoichi' is captured by the giant 'Tessai', a killer with stone skin and a boomerang-like double-bladed sword. Kagero is eventually rescued by the ninja vagabond 'Jubei Kibagami' who blinds the giant and makes good his escape with Kagero....