Rumors about a Hollywood adaptation of Hajime Isayama’s manga Attack on Titan have been swirling since 2018, but this latest news marks an unprecedented step forward. The chance for Attack on Titan to become a Hollywood blockbuster has just been strengthened by a new deal.
Kodansha, one of Japan’s largest manga publishers and the owner of Attack on Titan, Akira, and Ghost in the Shell, is behind this new agreement.
Notably, Kodansha’s CEO Yoshinobu Noma expressed great enthusiasm about launching their new studio: “Driven by our company mission to ‘Inspire extraordinary stories,’ we are constantly exploring new ways to bring rich, diverse stories originating from Japan to readers worldwide.
The establishment of Kodansha Studios marks a pivotal moment and opens a new chapter in the relationship between Japanese publishers and Hollywood. This studio represents our commitment to fostering direct partnerships with top artists, producers, and film studios globally.”
The challenging road to Hollywood for Attack on Titan
Back in 2018, Warner Bros. announced it had acquired the rights to Attack on Titan, with Andy Muschietti attached as director. However, that project clearly did not come to fruition, similar to the stalled Akira film directed by Taika Waititi.
The reasons for both projects stalling remain unclear, but the commercial and critical failure of the 2017 Ghost in the Shell adaptation is believed to have made Hollywood much more cautious.
Now, with the launch of a dedicated studio focused solely on adapting Kodansha’s works, these Hollywood projects are likely to proceed with the approval and supervision of the original manga creators. This raises strong hopes that the adaptations will satisfy both fans and authors alike.
Attack on Titan live-action could become one of the greatest adaptations ever
While fans should hold off judgment until an official announcement confirms the Hollywood adaptation of Attack on Titan, the series has all the ingredients to become a major box office hit in the US.
Gone are the days when fans would immediately dismiss anime and manga adaptations, as proven by the success of One Piece on Netflix. With a studio dedicated to Kodansha’s properties, fans can be fairly confident that creator Hajime Isayama will have a voice in the project, helping ensure its success.
While long-established franchises like Attack on Titan, Akira, and Ghost in the Shell are almost certainly priorities, newer manga such as Gachiakuta are also top candidates for adaptation.
In any case, an Attack on Titan Hollywood debut now seems all but certain, and all signs point to fans being pleased with the final result.