The network is in talks to acquire rights to the Japanese film, which centers on students forced to fight each other in a government-imposed competition.
- July 27, 2012
AceShowbiz -
On the heels of "The Hunger Games" success, The CW is eying to adapt Japanese film "Battle Royale", which has a similar plot, into a TV series. The network is currently in preliminary talks with a representative for the U.S. rights to the title about turning the controversial, yet blockbuster movie into an English-language show.
A spokesperson for The CW confirms to Los Angeles Times that there have been some discussions about the project, but refuses to divulge further details. Attorney Joyce Jun, who represents "Battle Royale" in Hollywood, simply says "there is no deal in place."
The 2000 "Battle Royale" itself follows high-school students who are forced by the government to kill each other in a deadly game. It was banned in several countries, but received critical acclaim at the same time. The movie spawned a sequel "Battle Royale II: Requiem", which was released in 2003.
Producers Roy Lee and Neal H. Moritz had been developing a U.S. remake film to the thriller since 2006, but the project was put on hold due to the release of "The Hunger Games" movie, which has a similar theme.
Aside from "Battle Royale", The CW is developing another "Hunger Games"-esque project "The Selection". It focuses on a poor young woman named Teegarden who is chosen by lottery to fight for survival in a dystopian future.
