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A big surprise came out of the Japanese movie industry on Sept. 13. Production was announced on the movie Death Note 2016 (tentative title), which is slated for release in 2016. This information came during the final episode of the TV drama Death Note that had been broadcasting in Japan on Nippon TV every Sunday since July. Things have gotten off all at once, and information on the movie has been revealed along with a special teaser video.
Death Note is originally a hugely popular manga created by author Tsugumi Ohba and illustrator Takeshi Obata. It was serialized from 2003–06 in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump. With the simple yet daring concept of a notebook that kills anyone whose name is written in it, and with its psychological warfare between characters, the series became a worldwide phenomenon. Death Note is a behemoth title that spans tons of media including TV anime, novels, stage plays, games, and more. A standout work in the series is the 2006 two-part movie starring Tatsuya Fujiwara and Kenichi Matsuyama, Death Note and Death Note: The Last Name, which became a mega hit with box office revenue surpassing 8 billion yen.
The new movie Death Note 2016 is indeed the first movie sequel in the series in 10 years. And being that it’s a sequel, the story will also be entirely new. This unexpected tidbit no doubt comes at the delight of Death Note fans everywhere.
The premise of the movie’s new story has also been revealed. Set in 2016, there exists an information society of the highest order that frequently unleashes cyberterrorism on the world. New characteristic figures who inherit the DNA of Light Yagami and L emerge. What they inherit and how will be turned over in the story. We also don’t know which of the two, who inherited the wills of the two geniuses, has a Death Note. Expect a new fight to unfold over the Death Notes. The movie also has a worldwide scope and will be filmed in overseas locations.
It seems the “Six-Note Role” from the original work will play a pivotal role in the movie too. The rule states, “Only six Death Notes can exist in the human world at the same time. Of course, this doesn’t include the Death Notes owned by the Shinigami. Therefore, by way of bestowing them to humans, no more than six Shinigami can exist in the human world.” Other adaptations to date including movies, drama, anime, and stage plays haven’t used this rule, so it seems we’re also in store for heroic battles over the Death Notes.
Noteworthy keywords are featured throughout the teaser video that was released during the final episode of the TV drama. “Light Yagami, Rebirth,” “L’s Successor,” “Misa Amane,” “Shinigami’s Eyes,” and “Note’s Seal” all give hints at what the movie has in store.
Nonetheless, details on the movie are slim. The big news announced this time is that production has been greenlit, the release is slated for 2016, and the movie will be directed by Shinsuke Sato. That’s right, the hitmaker behind Gantz and Toshokan Senso is taking on Death Note. Cast information and more will be announced in the coming follow-up reports.
Movie Death Note 2016 (Tentative Title)
2016 Japan-wide roadshow
© 2016 Death Note Film Partners
Director: Shinsuke Sato
Distribution: Warner Bros. Pictures
Source: animeanime
