Your Name, written and directed by Makoto Shinkai, was Japan’s biggest anime last year and it is already getting the live-action adaptation treatment. Paramount Pictures and Toho Co. Ltd announced last night that J.J. Abrams’ production company, Bad Robot, will produce the new film.
J.J. Abrams will be joined by the anime’s original producer, Genki Kawamura, along with the Oscar-nominated screenwriter, Eric Heisserer (Arrival, Final Destination 5). Your Name was released in Japan on August 26, 2016 and it was an overwhelming success. It was released in North America on April 7th. The sci-fi romance anime follows two teenagers: Taki and Mitsuha. Their lives become supernaturally intertwined when the teens begin to switch bodies after they sleep.
It is still unclear as to how closely Shinkai, referred to as the next Miyazaki, will be working with the team on the film, but he has stated how excited he is. When asked about the project, Kawamura said:
Until I met with the people from Bad Robot, I thought this was just a dream, but it seems it’s the real thing now. I can’t think of a better team to bring your name. to a rebirth than J. J. Abrams and his team. And Arrival, which Eric Heisserer wrote, was one of the most moving sci-fi films I’ve seen in recent years. I believe that Eric will depict the climax of your name., which mixes science fiction and a love story, in the best possible way.
However, there has been no news as to when the project will begin. For those of you who don’t know, J.J. Abrams is busy enough already. Along with working on HBO’s Westworld and other shows and films, Abrams recently signed up to direct Star Wars: Episode IX.Â
Hopefully, Your Name’s adaptation will shine much brighter than other current live-action adaptations. Are you looking forward to the adaptation? Let us know in the comments below!
