Afro Samurai goes live-action thanks to Samuel L. Jackson

by **MvRaM** Fri Jul 22, 2011 4:09 pm

Takashi Okazaki's Afro Samurai has been adapted once by Gonzo as a five-episode anime and subsequent TV movie. Now, the hip-hop styled manga is getting another adaptation, this time in live-action. Samuel L. Jackson, the voice of Afro in the anime, has teamed up with Gonzo and The Indomina Group to make a full-length movie out of the property.

Afro Samurai tells the story of the son of the Number 1 headband's owner, Rokutaro. The owner of the Number 2 headband, the gunslinger Justice, is allowed to challenge Rokutaro for the headband and does so, killing him in front of his son, Afro. Afro takes the No. 2 headband and vows revenge; however, while only the No. 2 can challenge the No. 1, anyone can challenge the No. 2 for his position, leading to a constant struggle for Afro in a futuristic, yet feudal Japan.

Jackson and company hope to have a writer and director attached to the product by the end of the year, with the film shooting in the Dominican Republic in 2012. There's no word on whether RZA will be returning to do the soundtrack, but I really hope they contact him; he lent a great feel to the anime's tone. Here's hoping the director keeps things as stylistically violent as the anime.

More info: http://collider.com/afro-samurai-live-action-movie/103903/