It seems
Hollywood is continuing to invest heavily in manga adaptations, and this time
it's "Claymore's" turn. CBS Studios and Propagate Content have announced they are working
on a live-action series based on Norihiro Yagi's popular dark fantasy story, in
collaboration with Japanese publisher Shueisha.
The
project has Masi Oka ( Heroes,
Hawaii Five-0 ) as executive producer, an actor known for
being a huge fan of the manga and who was previously involved in the
live-action "Death Note" film on Netflix... which may generate some
distrust among fans. There is no confirmed scriptwriter yet, but the
series promises to remain faithful to the action and moral dilemmas of the
manga and anime, which were once a hit.
The
announcement comes at an interesting time for live-action manga and anime
adaptations. After the huge success of "One Piece" on
Netflix, it seems studios are more willing to take risks with these projects. But
let's be honest: Western adaptations of Japanese material have a... rocky track
record (Dragon Ball Evolution, Ghost in the Shell, Cowboy Bebop, to name a
few).
Will
Claymore be the exception to the rule or will it end up on the list of
disappointments? We'll
have to wait for more details to find out.
Claymore
Synopsis
When a
flesh-hungry shapeshifting demon known as a Youma arrives in Raki's village, a
lone silver-eyed woman appears, carrying only a sword on her back. She is a
Claymore, a half-human, half-Youma being created for the sole purpose of
exterminating these creatures. After Raki's family is slaughtered, the Claymore
saves him, but he is banished from his home.
With
nowhere left to go, Raki decides to follow the warrior, whose name is Clare,
and accompany her on her travels. As they travel through village after village,
eliminating Youma along the way, more and more is slowly revealed about Clare's
mysterious organization and her fellow warriors. With each battle fought and
each demon eradicated, Clare draws closer to the Youma she has sworn revenge
against since she chose to become a Claymore.
