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Ninja Sneak Preview - Keith Stanfield as L in Death Note! Netflix Confirms Actor Cast in Wingard's Death Note Movie - Filming to Begin in Vancouver This Month

13/6/2016

101 Comments

 
Adam Wingard Tweet revealing Keith Stanfield L in Death (June 13th 2016, 11am British time)

The new Death Note US L Keith Stanfield outs himself
in quick peek Twitter live stream. (June 13th 2016, 11am BST)
Keith Stanfield L Death Note news tweets

Keith Stanfield Death Note L Tweets June 10th and June 13th 2016
While all the world's press are busy confirming Keith Stanfield's undisclosed role in the Wingard directed Death Note movie, we can tell you precisely what part the Straight Outta Compton actor will play.

Unannounced officially, equivocally true nontheless: Keith Stanfield has been cast as L.

Talk about being in the right place at the right time!

At 11am British time (June 13th 2016), tipped off by dozens of sources that the actor's place on the cast list was now official, Death Note News editor Matti popped on over to his Twitter account to follow him.

Just in time to find Keith Stanfield sneaking in a live feed dancing to a tune of Big L - his finger making that familiar Lawliet mononym shape.

Moreover, that live stream had been retweeted by Adam Wingard and was a mere 39 seconds old.  Within a minute it was all gone, deleted from its Periscope.TV host, the Twittersphere and cyberspace as if it had never been. 

But for our screenshot, of course.

Could he get more blatant?  Apparently yes!  As - we're calling it - Death Note's US L actor Keith Stanfield added two more Tweets to fill the void left by his missing live stream.  One posted three days ago; the other just now.

Reproduced below, the first read simply 'Hold this L', while the latest retweeted 'Perception is key' - a three year old message (dated September 13th 2013) from @thefirst L, the apparent Official Twitter of L from Death Note.  An RPer who right now probably can't believe their luck!
What added impetus - or dissolution - this development brings to the current raging debate regarding the white-washing of Wingard's Death Note cast remains to be seen.

Keith Stanfield is patently not a Protestant White American - as per the overwhelming norm in actor ethnicity shown large upon Hollywood screens.  Then again, neither is Nat Wolff, an actor of Jewish heritage cast as Death Note protagonist and L's opponent Light Yagami.

However neither are they Asian (or Asian-American, as the case may be), which is the real flashpoint in this on-going controversy.

New Death Note Owner Netflix Confirms Keith Stanfield Casting; Adam Wingard Announces Jason Eisener for the Crew

As tipped for you in our April 7th 2016 post, Netflix has indeed secured the rights to make the US live-action Death Note film.  It's now known that the budget for Wingard's movie will be in the vicinity of $40-$50 million.

Usual great source Justin Kroll confirmed the Netflix Death Note movie rights news in Variety (Short Term 12’s’ Keith Stanfield to Star With Nat Wolff in Netflix’s ‘Death Note’, June 10th 2016).

While also breaking hot news implied by that headline and all previously discussed above - Netflix officially cast Keith Stanfield in Death Note, as per previously strong rumours reported here last month.

Death Note's director Adam Wingard has been making announcements too vis-à-vis additions to the movie-making team.  This one was via Twitter and informed us that Jason Eisener has signed up as 2nd Unit Director.

Poor thing.  This must be so exciting for the Canadian director of Hobo With a Shotgun, V/H/S/2 and ABCs of Death. I can't help but imagine that his addition will be a little lost amidst the clamour about the US film's casting of L.  Particularly as both public heads up came on the same day.

But Eisener didn't get a nice Variety article.  Merely an admittedly 'very excited' Tweet from Adam Wingard, and a mention here from us.

Well done, Mr Eisener!
Adam Wingard Death Note Jason Eisener tweet (June 10th 2016)

Jason Eisener is Death Note's 2nd Unit Director, as
revealed by Adam Wingard (Twitter, June 10th 2016)

Latest Production Information for Death Note Film

What Jason Eisener's appointment implies, as director of Death Note's second unit, is that there will be at least two sets running concurrently.  (Prevailing rumour whispers that there will eventually be three.)

This development in the technical film-making side of things is borne witness is the latest update from the Directors Guild of Canada (download PDF, dated June 10th 2016), which otherwise doesn't add a great deal to what we already reported at the beginning of May 2016.

Death Note production information Directors Guild of Canada
To spell out what that means - while Wingard oversees the action at one Death Note filming location; Eisener will be in charge of the other.  Double the opportunity for Death Note fans to oops-a-daisy accidentally wander into the movie shoot, and get themselves forcibly ejected by security or constabulary.

Hopefully with pictures and/or gossip, which we'll happily share.

Filming on Death Note kicks off in Vancouver on June 29th 2016.  It is currently due to finish on August 30th 2016.
101 Comments

Prior to Playing Misa, Margaret Qualley Lands Part in 'Sidney Hall' and Stars in Shane Black's 'The Nice Guys'

30/5/2016

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With her role as Misa Amane looming, Margaret Qualley has signed up for another part to fill the gap before filming Death Note.

She has joined the cast of Sidney Hall, a movie currently being shot in New York City.


Starring Logan Lerman and Elle Fanning, its plot revolves around the eponymous Sidney Hall, author of a book about his own generation, who then disappears without a trace.

So a little like Light Yagami then!  Who notably exhibited penmanship in a book too; the impactful contents of which could equally be read, in a fairly abstract way, as a commentary upon the world as he experienced it - rotten - and who also vanished and hasn't been seen since.

Margaret should be able to pick up some nice tips for her forthcoming performance as Misa Amane.

Meanwhile Margaret Qualley is one of the stars of another movie out right now, which also has some distinct Death Note links.

Ex-Death Note director Shane Black's The Nice Guys went on general release in the US on May 20th 2016.  It's a neo-noir, crime/mystery comedy with buddy elements too; written by Anthony Bagarozzi, who was behind one of the earliest screenplay drafts for the US live-action Death Note movie. He still retains a credit for it, though Jeremy Slater has since reworked his script.

Margaret plays Amelia Kutner in their movie - a missing woman, who demands to remain missing and even hires a heavy to ensure that continues to be the case.

Unfortunately, Amelia's implicated in the reappearance of a dead woman, now more alive than her funeral suggests that she should be.  Hence the sudden pursuit.

Finally, Margaret has the final season of The Leftovers to complete, then she'll be free to take on Misa Amane when filming begins in Vancouver, Canada, on June 22nd 2016.
The Nice Guys' Margaret Qualley, Crazy and Beautiful.

Wonder if she ever fears becoming typecast...

Posted during

Death Note Misa Month
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Is There a Part for Keith Stanfield in the New American Death Note Movie?

25/5/2016

3 Comments

 
Death Note part for Keith Stanfield?

Will Californian actor Keith Stanfield be
in Death Note US live-action film?
There's a rather persistent rumour doing the rounds that US rapper and actor Keith Stanfield is about to be offered a role in the forthcoming live-action Death Note American movie.

If so, then who will he play?

The story began circulating in early April 2106, originating at The Wrap, passed on as part of its 'closing in - Netflix to take Death Note off Warner Bros' breaking news.

We were all reporting that one at the time. It hit our feeds and sources as the biggest Death Note film related information for months, at least as pertained to the frequently stalled Western remake.

It was certainly the most shocking snippet to grace our speculative minds since Shane Black told of some untenable changes demanded by Warner Bros early on.
However, same day information linking Selma and Straight Outta Compton star Keith Stanfield with Death Note was only reported by The Wrap (Adam Wingard’s ‘Death Note’ Jumps From Warner Bros. to Netflix (Exclusive), Thom Geier, April 6th 2016). 

A tip-off had been sourced from an 'insider', but no-one at Netflix was available to take repeated calls to query its veracity.

Nor yet the second shared insight. This was that Death Note was nearing production, when Warner Bros decided to end years of dilly-dalling by pulling the rug at the 11th hour.  But that bit was obvious.  It didn't take a Wammy level genius detective to deduce its truth. This was the only scenario which could account for the studio hiring director and stars for its cast; then suddenly sitting down at the negotiation table with Netflix, now poised to secure Death Note's production rights for itself instead.

A little out of left-field and accordingly met with surprise by the Death Note fandom, with no little wide-eyed pondering upon the implications.

Most fan comments clocked by Death Note News staff on balance seemed relieved that our tale was out of that studio's hands.  Few had really trusted Warner Bros executives in the US, since Black exposed their desire to show Light Yagami muddled, angst-ridden, but fundamentally a good guy, whilst getting rid of Ryuk for Satanic overtones vis-a-vis shinigami.

Now Netflix appeared (and remains so at the time of writing) to be making the Death Note movie; and, if Thom Geier of The Wrap has it right, bringing favoured actor Keith Stanfield into the project too.  Though nothing of the sort can be verified until the ink is dry on that deal documentation.

Which leaves fans of Death Note musing upon two big burning questions for the moment:
  • Will Netlix release Death Note (US movie) in theaters/cinemas, or stream it only?
  • Who will Keith Stanfield be playing?

With Light - and Misa - already taken, the field is wide open.  It could be any Death Note character at all (though the likelihood falls dramatically regarding roles amongst female dramatis personae).  In considering it, watch Keith Stanfield in action and see if a name presents itself. Then please do comment with your suggestions.  We might be the first to call it!

Miles Ahead Trailer - Keith Stanfield Starring as Miles Davies (2016)

Has he the gravitas to be Soichiro Yagami perhaps?   Though, thinking about it, that might raise questions about whether Light (aka Nat Wolff) is really his biological son.   Aizawa?
3 Comments

Casting Misa Amane: Actresses Who Have Played Death Note's Misa-Misa

21/5/2016

4 Comments

 
On a global scale, Misa-Misa has been dubbed, played and in some instances sung into life for the delight of Death Note audiences everywhere.

In honour of her monthly event on Death Note News, we have collected together the names of the twenty-one Misa Amane actresses from Death Note adaptations across the world. Who for you, amongst these ladies (and one gent), wore the face or spoke the voice of Misa the Second Kira?

Aya Hirano

Aya Hirano Misa Amane actress Death Note anime Japanese original
Voice Actress
(aka 平野 綾, Hirano Aya)
- Death Note anime Japanese original
- Death Note: Relight: Visions of a God Japanese original
- Death Note: Relight: L's Successors Japanese original

Shannon Chan-Kent

Shannon Chan-Kent Misa Amane actress Death Note English dub
Voice Actress
- Death Note anime English dub
- Death Note: Relight: Visions of a God English dub
- Death Note: Relight: L's Successors English dub

Ana Lúcia Menezes

Ana Lúcia Menezes Misa Amane actress Death Note Brazilian dub, pictured with L voice actor Sérgio Cantú
Voice Actress
(aka Ana Lúcia Grangeiro)
- Death Note anime Brazilian Portuguese dub
- Death Note: Relight: Visions of a God Brazilian Portuguese dub
- Death Note: Relight: L's Successors Brazilian Portuguese dub
Pictured above with Sérgio Cantú, the actor who voiced L

Man Yi Ching

Man Yi Ching Misa Amane actress Death Note Cantonese dub
Voice Actress
(aka 程文意. Wong Zi Haan, Cing4 Man4 Ji3)
- Death Note anime Cantonese dub
- Death Note: Relight: Visions of a God Cantonese dub
- Death Note: Relight: L's Successors Cantonese dub

Núria Trifol

Núria Trifol Misa Amane actress Spanish and Catalan Death Note dubs
Voice Actress
(aka Núria Trifol Segarra)
- Death Note anime Catalan AND Spanish dubs
- Death Note: Relight: Visions of a God Catalan AND Spanish dubs
- Death Note: Relight: L's Successors Catalan AND Spanish dubs

Adrienne Warren

Singer Adrienne Warren Misa Amane actress Death Note the Musical
Musical Actress
- Death Note the Musical first read-through English Cast
Frank Wildhorn's NYC rehearsal

Margaret Qualley

Margaret Qualley Misa Amane actress Death Note US movie
Film Actress
- Death Note movie US

Charlyne Pestel

Charlyne Pestel Misa Amane actress Death Note French dub
Voice Actress
- Death Note anime French dub
- Death Note: Relight: Visions of a God French dub
- Death Note: Relight: L's Successors French dub

Magdalena Turba

Magdalena Turba Misa Amane actress Death Note German dub
Voice Actress
- Death Note anime German dub
- Death Note: Relight: Visions of a God German dub
- Death Note: Relight: L's Successors German dub

Borbála Csuha

Borbála Csuha Misa Amane actress Death Note Hungarian dub
Voice Actress
(aka Csuha Borbála, Csuha Bori, Bori Csuha)
- Death Note anime Hungarian dub
- Death Note: Relight: Visions of a God Hungarian dub
- Death Note: Relight: L's Successors Hungarian dub

Germana Savo

Germana Savo Misa Amane actress Death Note Italian dub
Voice Actress
- Death Note anime Italian dub
- Death Note: Relight: Visions of a God Italian dub
- Death Note: Relight: L's Successors Italian dub

Erika Toda

Erika Toda Misa Amane actress Death Note movies
Film Actress
(aka 戸田 恵梨香, Toda Erika)
- Death Note movie
- Death Note: The Last Name movie
- Death Note: Light Up the NEW World movie

Hinako Sano

Hinako Sano Misa Amane actress Death Note Television drama
Television Actress
(aka 佐野 ひなこ, Sano Hinako)
- Death Note TV drama

Fuka Yuzuki

Fuka Yuzuki Misa Amane actress Death Note the Musical Japan
Musical Actress
(aka 唯月 ふうか, Yuzuki Fuka, Fuuka Yuzuki, Yuzuki Fuuka)
- Death Note the Musical Japanese original cast member

Seo-Young Kim

Kim Seo-Young Misa Amane actress Death Note Korean dub
Voice Actress
(aka 김서영, Kim Seo-Young, Kim Seo-Yeong, Seo-Yeong Kim)
- Death Note anime Korean dub
- Death Note: Relight: Visions of a God Korean dub
- Death Note: Relight: L's Successors Korean dub

Seo-Ah Jung

Seo-Ah Jung Misa Amane actress Death Note the Musical Korean dub
Musical Actress
(aka 정선아, Jung Seo-Ah, Seo-Ah Jung, Jung Seo Ah, Seo Ah Jung,
Jung Seon-Ah, Seon-Ah Jung, Jeong Seon Ah, Seon Ah Jeong,
Jeong Sun-Ah,  Sun-Ah Jeong, Jeong Sun Ah, Sun Ah Jeong,
Jung Sun-Ah, Sun-Ah Jung, Jung Sun Ah, Sun Ah Jung)

- Death Note the Musical Korean cast

Xiǎnhuì Lóng

Xiǎnhuì Lóng Misa Amane actress Death Note Mandarin dub
Voice Actress
(aka 龍顯蕙, Lóng Xiǎnhuì, Long Xianhui,
Xianhui Long, Lung4 Hin2 Wai6)

- Death Note anime Mandarin dub
- Death Note: Relight: Visions of a God Mandarin dub
- Death Note: Relight: L's Successors Mandarin dub

Rebeca Gómez

Rebeca Gómez Misa Amane actress Death Note Mexican dub
Voice Actress
- Death Note anime Mexican dub
- Death Note: Relight: Visions of a God Mexican dub
- Death Note: Relight: L's Successors Mexican dub

Radosław Popłonikowski

Radolaw Poplonikoski voiced Misa Amane in Death Note Polish dub
Voice Actor
(aka Popłonikowski Radosław, Radoslaw Poplonikowski)
- Death Note anime Polish dub
- Death Note: Relight: Visions of a God Polish dub
- Death Note: Relight: L's Successors Polish dub
NB Polish dub was read by a single narrator

Catherine Gorokhovskaya

Catherine Gorokhovskaya Misa Amane actress Death Note Russian dub
Voice Actress
(aka Екатерина Гороховская)
- Death Note anime Russian dub
- Death Note: Relight: Visions of a God Russian dub
- Death Note: Relight: L's Successors Russian dub

Hazel Hernan

Hazel Hernan Misa Amane actress Death Note Tagalog dub
Voice Actress
(aka Mary Hazel Hernan)
- Death Note anime Tagalog dub
- Death Note: Relight: Visions of a God Tagalog dub
- Death Note: Relight: L's Successors Tagalog dub

Misa-Misa Actress Birthdays in the Death Note Calendar

We will also be adding the birthdays of all Misa Amane actresses to our On This Day in Death Note calendar.  However the best of our hardened researches have failed to produce the following facts:
  • Man Yi Ching - born June 18th, but where and in what year?
  • Núria Trifol - born in Barcelona, Spain, but when?
  • Magdalena Turba - born in Berlin, Germany during 1983, but on what date?
  • Germana Savo - where and on what date was she born?
  • Kim Seo-Young - born on January 19th 1977, but where?
  • Lóng Xiǎnhuì - born in Taiwan, but when and precisely where?
  • Rebeca Gómez - where and on what date was she born?
If you could make good our omissions, please do contact us with the info. and we'll update their entries forthwith.

Thank you in advance!
Misa Amane actresses compiled by Lua Cruz and Matti

Posted as Part of

Misa Amane Month Death Note News
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Death Note Movie to Begin Filming in Canada June-August 2016, Plus Deadpool Deputy Director Moves into the Frame

9/5/2016

3 Comments

 
We've actually got dates for the filming schedule of Adam Wingard's Death Note movie!  Plus one or two more details besides.

Last we heard, Warner Bros had put the movie up for grabs and Netflix was in the top running to nab it.  There's no firm update on that yet, just that the strong rumours remain one nod short of fact.

What we can say is that production is being overseen by the presumably newly formed (considering the name) company DN (Canada) Productions Inc. 

They will set up shop in British Columbia on June 22nd 2016, filming in various locations but mostly in and around Vancouver.   Though all dates are subject to change, Death Note's film schedule is currently pencilled in to end on August 30th 2016.
Death Note L and Light
As we've been asked this plenty of times and can finally answer it - Death Note's casting manger is Laray Mayfield, who we love for Fight Club.  The company's production address is 310 - 330A 555 Brooksbank Avenue, North Vancouver, BC, V7J 3S5.  (Tel: 604-983-5400  Email: deathnoteproduction@prodicle.com)

Diving into Death Note - Deadpool's Assistant Director James Bitonti!

Deadpool's James Bitonti has signed up as co-producer and assistant director.  There were actually bets being made here on a firm Deadpool/Death Note movie link being established soon. Unfortunately we kept it to ourselves instead of speculating in an editorial, else Death Note News would have appeared hot on the ball and well ahead of the crowd.

Bitonti, of course, is also known for X:Men and Rise of the Planet of the Apes.  But Deadpool will be the clincher.

Adam Wingard remains the director, though his real name is actually WILLIAM Adam Wingard, according to the blarb. 
Producers Masi Oka, Brian Witten and Dan Lin also retain their involvement in the movie; along with executive producers Roy Lee, John Powers Middleton and Adam C. Stone.

Newly brought on-board is executive producer Brendan Ferguson, known for The Butterfly Effect, Sucker Punch and The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus.  He will also be acting as unit production manager.  He'll be joined in the executive producer role by Doug Davison of How to Train Your Dragon fame.

Drew Locke is stepping in as production manager,
Laura Livingstone is PC (anyone know what that stands for?) and Hans Dayal is location manager. He will be assisted in the role by Patrick Subarsky.

Finally, relative newcomer Ryan Halprin will be filling the position of production executive.  Whatever that is.  He was an assistant to Dan Lin on The Lego Movie, and co-produced the upcoming sequels.

Beyond that, you'll know more when we do.
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Warner Bros. Surrenders Death Note US Live-Action Movie; Netflix Bids High

7/4/2016

2 Comments

 
Variety breaks Death Note Netflix story April 7th 2016
How the story was broken
at Variety magazine by Justin Kroll
(April 7th 2016)
Adam Wingard's Death Note is likely to start filming in June 2016.  But it won't be Warner Bros behind the production anymore.  At the moment, it's highly likely to be Netflix.

That is the startling news circulating today.

It's unknown why Warner Bros. has decided to surrender the project, which it's held firmly in abeyance since 2009.  During that time, the studio has ordered script rewrites; actors have been linked with various roles, but the rumours rarely came to fruition; while directors have come and gone, one - we're indebted to you, Shane Black - with horror stories of Warner Bros. US attempting to sanitize the Death Note story out of all comprehension.

By the end of 2015 through early 2016, it seemed that Warner Bros. finally had a format which worked for them and all concerned.  Adam Wingard was directing; Nat Wolff had signed up to play Kira, with his real life girlfriend Margaret Qualley poised to become the movie's Misa Amane.  There was much talk of initial photography beginning in the spring.

Hence the shock nature of the news (broken by Justin Kroll at Variety) that Warner Bros. chose now to put their Death Note film 'into turnaround'.

Opening up a bidding war which Netflix currently seems set to win. Though SFX and Lionsgate are also strongly in the running.  (Anyone else think that something about a Lionsgate Death Note feels so right?) 

However, there is some speculation that giving up Death Note is part of Warner Bros. previously declared cull on 'homegrown movies', in order to concentrate its resources upon extant franchises known to be successful.  The monetary profit for Warner Bros - raised by the sale of its film rights to Death Note - is expected to fall into the ballpark of $40m-$50m.

Adam Wingard, Nat Wolff and Margaret Qualley are all apparently still on board, whichever company snaps the movie up.

Netflix, of course, already has some data concerning the popularity of Death Note.  It recently started streaming full episodes of the anime, so can see for itself how many Western viewers are interested in this particular story.  However, it's not yet game over for the other bidders.  The current status for Netflix and Death Note is 'in final negotiations', which could pretty much mean anything, besides what it says on the packet.

As for fans, it's mostly looking like we will finally get our US live-action Death Note movie, whomever produces it, though it remains to be seen whether that will be available online only, or also released as a theatrical run.

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On This Day in Death Note: March 23rd

23/3/2016

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March 23rd 1969: Death Note Executive Producer Roy Lee born
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Adam Wingard Talks US Live-Action Death Note Movie with Collider

18/3/2016

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Adam Wingard on Collider March 17th 2016

(Collider screenshot March 18th 2016)

It isn't a massive amount that US Death Note director Adam Wingard has to say that's of particular interest to us.

Nevertheless Collider's Perri Nemiroff asked about future projects, in an interview that was otherwise about Wingard's pilot TV show Outcast.

Wingard answered, "I'm doing an adaptation of Death Note. I'm in the process of doing that."

That's all!  Though it's nice to have random confirmation that everything is still happening.

The comment occurs around the 9.48 minute mark in the above embedded interview from ‘Outcast’: Adam Wingard on the Differences between Directing a Pilot & Feature Film, posted yesterday - March 17th 2016 - on Collider.
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Dark Tone for Death Note - US Movie Remake Sure to Get R Rating

24/2/2016

3 Comments

 
We saw it coming, as soon as Adam Wingard was brought on board.  Now Warner Bros Death Note producer Roy Lee has confirmed it - the US Death Note live-action movie is going to be for adults.  A dark tone with lots of blood being spilled.

Speaking with The Collider's Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub, at the recent DICE Summit in Last Vegas, Lee stated that Wingard was just 'waiting for us to officially green light the movie, but we have a cast in place.'

Adding that Death Note is 'a movie we’re planning on making this year.'

Then came the vital bit.  Weintraub asked about the target audience and Lee answered,
“It’s definitely for adults. It is zero chance it will be below an R-rating,” and went on to say that the tone of the film “will be one of the first manga adaptations that feels very grounded but still has fantastical elements.”
~ Roy Lee, The Collider - Exclusive: ‘Death Note’ Movie Rating and Tone Revealed by Matt Goldberg (February 22nd 2016)
US Death Note producer Roy Lee

Death Note producer Roy Lee
Adam Wingard is known for his horror/suspense movies.  Lots of blood and guts, a touch of the old slasher genre, with plenty of gratuitous violence, should the script allow him to ninja some in.  Plus sex.  And expletives.  That's what we've come to expect from Adam Wingard, the man responsible for The Guest (2014), You're Next (2011) and segments of movies like V.H.S. and its sequel.  Hence Death Note was already promising to be a little gorily adult themed in amongst his oeuvre.

What Roy Lee had to say merely places a smile on several Death Note News staff-members faces, coupled with a 'obviously seen Deadpool and decided to risk it then' comment or two.

Meanwhile, editor Matti has already been trying to introduce Adam Wingard to the concept of filming the second arc too:

Just started watching 'The Guest'. 30 mins in: David is fundamentally an older #DeathNote Mello. Just saying. Enjoying so far @AdamWingard

— Death Note News (@MRSJeevas) February 23, 2016
3 Comments

Death Note Movie Makers Gearing Up for Filming

6/2/2016

1 Comment

 
We have two Death Note films coming this year.  The proof is in the Tweeting.
(Incidentally the actual date for Japan's Death Note 2016 movie release is September 13th 2016, according to IMDb.)

Japanese movie Death Note 2016 starts filming

'Death Note 2016 begins! Thank you' reads this Tweet
from the official Japanese Warner Bros account
on January 6th 2016 - presumably referring to filming
Meanwhile, over on the official Death Note 2016 website:
Death Note 2016 lead actors
 The recently announced stars of Death Note 2016 - Sōsuke Ikematsu, Masahiro Higashide and Masaki Suda - have been commenting on their new roles.

Masahiro, who is playing Death Note researcher and investigator Tsukuru Mishima, notes that he's grown up knowing this story.  Therefore it's difficult not to be influenced by what has gone before; nor to avoid the pressure in getting it right.

He views the latest story as a three-way, intertwined battle between geniuses. He is enjoying making the movie and hopes that we enjoy watching it, including those discovering the story for the first time now.

'New L' Sōsuke - aka Ryūzaki - is also feeling the pressure: to live up to the legacy left by Ken'ichi Matsuyama in the earlier movies. He feels excited about filming and notes that every day the cast are directed in exceeding the standard of the day before.

This new Death Note story, he feels, contains the central message that human beings are weak and foolish creatures.

Masaki equally remembers when he was in the audience watching earlier Death Note live-action films. That makes it all the more thrilling to be starring in one now.

He sees in his own legacy a hint of Mello and Near in the original manga, insofar as his cyber-terrorist Kira worshipper character Yūgi Shion - plus the parts played by the other two - represent the successors, heirs or children of Light and L.  This is the movie equivalent of a Death Note second arc.

He hopes that their 'second half' story will surpass expectations laid down by the first wave of Japanese live-action Death Note movies ten years ago.

Personally they would have had my (tentative) vote straight out, if they'd just HAD Mello in one of these live-action movies.  And I don't mean disguised as a young schoolgirl.  We're all looking at you, L: Change the World and Maki.
Reading Death Note Adam Wingard Director

US live action Death Note director Adam Wingard,
re-reading the Black Edition,
as per his Tweet on December 10th 2015
Adam followed his with this Tweet, also dated December 10th 2015:
Death Note director Adam Wingard Black Edition luggage Tweet Dec 10th 2015
Death Note Black Edition I
Death Note Black Edition II
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Other Bright Lights Beckon to Further Fill Nat Wolff's Kira Year - Supposed Death Note Actor Appearing Off-Broadway in Buried Child

5/12/2015

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The New Group with Nat Wolff in Buried Alive
The New Group featuring strongly rumoured
US Light Yagami actor Nat Wolff
The roles are just rolling in for Nat Wolff!  The American actor's calendar is quickly becoming inundated with work for 2016 - the year in which he's strongly rumoured (practically confirmed) to be playing Light Yagami in the US live-action Death Note movie remake.

Shooting on Adam Wingard's Death Note film is meant to begin in the Spring.  However, Nat Wolff has just been booked to appear in theatrical performances of Buried Child, running off-Broadway from February 17th through to March 13th 2016 (with previews for critics starting on Feb. 2nd).

Wolff will be playing Vince, whose arrival at his grandparent's farm throws everything into chaos.  He's left trying to explain to girlfriend Shelley why nobody seems to recognize him, amongst a family where sanity is held by a thread and dark secrets seek to arise.  A task made all the more heart-breaking and confusing, as he doesn't understand the reasons why himself.

Playwright Sam Shepherd won a Pulitzer Prize for penning Buried Child.  It will be staged at the Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre, in NYC's Pershing Square Signature Center.  With soon-to-be  Kira actor Nat Wolff taking his place in The New Group theatrical company, under the  direction of Scott Elliott.

This is in addition to other recently announced parts for Nat Wolff in 2016.  He'll be starring as Jim Nolan in James Franco's movie In Dubious Battle, and also as Doug, a creepy loner who snatches and imprisons a woman expecting her conform to his will, in Jessica Manafort's film Rosy. 

While strongly expected to squeeze in global domination, the God of this New World arisen as Light Yagami in the American Death Note movie.  By the look of it, Nat Wolff is halfway there before his shinigami even dropped a notebook.  At least in terms of utter ubiquity!

Soon we'll be able to work out when Death Note filming in the USA will occur, just by looking for the gaps in Nat Wolff's diary.

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Teen Wolf's Arden Cho Wades in on the US Death Note Whitewashing Furore

2/12/2015

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Twitter has been in uproar, cheering on and retweeting US actress Arden Cho's comments about the US live-action Death Note movie, and its strangely Caucasian casting choices thus far.

Known for her bad-ass role as Kira Yukimura in TV drama Teen Wolf, Arden Cho was scathing about Death Note casting overlooking Asian actors in the USA.  She initially Tweeted:
Arden Cho Tweet about Death Note whitewashing

Source: Twitter
Death Note whitewashing Arden Cho quotes Viola Davis

Source: Twitter
Then, in response to Lauren, a commenter who wrote, 'MANY talented Asian actors/actresses to choose from and yet they whitewash the whole film!'  Arden posted:
Arden Cho Death Note movie tweet re Asian actors

Source: Twitter
Nor had she finished there.
Arden Cho heartbroken Death Note whitewashing

Source: Twitter


Before coming back for more:
Arden Cho tweets about whitewashing Japanese characters Death Note

Source: Twitter
Whitewashing Death Note Arden Cho Tweet

Source: Twitter
Arden Cho takes down a troll re Death Note whitewashing

Source: Twitter
Finally, Arden Cho had a greeting for Edward Zo (possibly tipped off by the furore on Twitter regarding her comments about whitewashing Death Note):
Arden Cho tweets Edward  Zo

Source: Twitter
Asian-American actor Edward Zo had previously - and quite famously - been vocal on the subject of Death Note US live-action movie auditions excluding Asian actors.  Silence means approval and neither Arden nor Edward are prepared to be silent on this issue.  Nor are a whole lot of other people judging by the amount of retweets and replies each exposee and protest prompted.

What do you think?
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Three Roles for Nat Wolff in his 2016 Death Note Year

24/11/2015

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Death Note actor Nat Wolff photograph Wikipedia
US Death Note actor Nat Wolff
Photography by Nehrams2020
2016 looks to be a big year for Light Yagami actor Nat Wolff.

In addition to starring in the American live action Death Note adaptation, he will feature in two other movies that year.

Nat Wolff is playing Jim Nolan, the idealistic leader of a 900 strong workers' rights movement rising up in 1930s California, in James Franco's dramatization of John Steinbeck's 'desperately honest' novel In Dubious Battle.

Finding the 'courage never to submit or yield', Nolan took on landowners with an impassioned zeal that saw him elevated to almost Christ-like proportions among the starving Californians  he inspired fight back.  Like Christ, he was ultimately doomed - sacrificed to the cause of maintaining the hegemony and demonstrating their overlord's might.

Based on a true story, In Dubious Battle describes the real world struggle of striking apple and peach pickers in Tulare County. 

It was called 'courageous' when Steinbeck wrote it, and subsequently highly suppressed. (Probably in case it caused the good folk of Visalia remember their history and take it upon themselves to fight injustice again. But mostly because it was perceived to 'promote' Communism.)  Nevertheless - and as a definite point in his favour insofar as I'm concerned - President Barack Obama cited In Dubious Battle as his favourite Steinbeck novel.

The movie is currently in post-production, due for release sometime in 2016.

John Steinbeck In Dubious Battle 1936 cover

Buy In Dubious Battle by John Steinbeck
1936 hardback cover
on Amazon US
In Dubious Battle Audiobook John Steinbeck

Buy In Dubious Battle by John Steinbeck audiobook
on Amazon US
In Dubious Battle by John Steinbeck cover

Buy In Dubious Battle by John Steinbeck
on Amazon US
Also just announced is Nat Wolff's casting in Jessica Manafort's Rosy.  He will be taking on the role of Doug, a lonely, young man who abducts an actress named Rosy.  He expects her to bow to his every whim, but she proves a much more difficult prospect than that.

The  part of Rosy is as yet uncast in this indie thriller. 
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Did Nat Wolff Just Indirectly Confirm Involvement in the US Live Action Death Note Movie? 

19/11/2015

2 Comments

 
It's possible to read too much into things, when you're starved of information and the snippets are too few and far between. 

However, when strongly rumoured US Death Note movie casting for Light Yagami actor Nat Wolff has kept a resolute silence on the subject, then suddenly tweets a story linking himself and Margaret Qualley both with the project...

Well I'm sure I'm not the only one drawing conclusions in the sand.
Nat Wolff retweet about Death Note Nov 12th 2015

Nat & Alex Wolff retweet of Variety article re Margaret
Qualley cast in Death Note (Twitter, November 12th 2015)
 The Variety magazine Tweet that Nat Wolff  - or possibly brother Alex - shared with his followers linked to its news report entitled ‘The Leftovers’ Star Margaret Qualley Joins Nat Wolff in ‘Death Note’ (by Justin Kroll, Nov 12th 2015).

Assuming that Nat knows things that we don't know (i.e. the reality and status of those 'final negotiations' concerning his casting as Light Yagami); also that he knows the truth at the heart of all those news articles citing his own girlfriend as the 'leading lady' in Death Note's US live action movie adaption; and furthermore that Nat Wolff wouldn't want to spread disinformation amongst his fans on Twitter.

I conclude that everything written in the Variety piece about the Death Note movie is true insofar as Nat Wolff knows. Fair enough with everyone else?

So what do we know from it about this American Death Note film remake?
  • Margaret Qualley is still 'in negotiations' to be Nat Wolff's Death Note co-star.  (Wouldn't it be wonderful if it turns out that she's L?
  • Nowhere does it say, nor intimate, that he hasn't secured the part of Light Yagami.  In short, let's assume that Nat Wolff IS Kira now (for that version at least).
  • Adam Wingard is directing; Roy Lee, Dan Lin, Jason Hoffs and Masi Oka are producing;  Jeremy Slater wrote the script's most recent draft; Doug Davison and Brian Witten are executive producers (what do these things actually mean?  I can't help but imagine that they are just mates of someone with the money, so have to be chucked in somewhere for doing nothing, with titles like 'executive producer' - am I just being cynical and naive?); and Niija Kuykendall and Nik Mavinkurve are hanging about on behalf of Warner Bros.
  • Death Note starts filming in Spring 2016.
Therefore nothing that we didn't already know, but this time we know it with a touch more certainty.
US Death Note movie Nat Wolff as Light Yagami

Preview of Nat Wolff as Light Yagami in the live action Death Note US film
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Margaret Qualley - White American Misa Found for US Live Action Death Note Movie (and She's Nat Wolff's IRL Girlfriend)

13/11/2015

0 Comments

 
The internet is currently abuzz with news that the Adam Wingard directed US Death Note live action movie is about to cast its Misa Amane.

Margaret Qualley (Jill Garvey in HBO's The Leftovers) is apparently in final talks to play the 'female lead' - according to an article in The Hollywood Reporter ('Leftovers' Actress Margaret Qualley in Talks to Join Adam Wingard's 'Death Note' (Exclusive) by Borys Kit, November 12th 2015) - though presumably that is Misa.
Death Note Misa and Margaret Qualley

Could Margaret Qualley be Misa Amane in the new Death Note film?

Margaret Qualley and Nat Wolff - Real Life Couple to Play American Death Note's Misa and Light?

This relatively unknown US actress also played Raquel in the 2013 drama movie Palo Alto, wherein she co-starred with Nat Wolff - the actor strongly believed to have been cast as US Death Note's Light Yagami.

However, it's a little bit more than that.  Margaret and Nat have been dating since 2012. 

If both of these 'final negotiations' rumours are true, then we will be seeing an established long-term real life couple playing Misa and Light in the live action US Death Note movie.
Death Note couple - Misa Amane and Light Yagami

Death Note couple - Misa Amane and Light Yagami
Death Note couple? Margaret Qualley and Nat Wolff
Real life couple - Margaret Qualley and Nat Wolff

Who is Potential Misa Actress Margaret Qualley?

Born in Asheville, North Carolina, on October 23rd 1994, her full name is Susan Margaret Qualley,

The mooted Death Note actress has even more famous familial credentials.  Her mother is A-list Hollywood actress Andie MacDowell (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Green Card, Sex, Lies and Videotapes, Multiplicity) from her first marriage with male model Paul Qualley. 

Her sister Rainey Qualley is also an actress - recently seen in Falcon Song, Pink & Baby Blue and the TV series Mad Men - as well as a touring musician. Rainey opened for Loretta Lynn earlier this year, while her debut single Me and Johnny Cash is currently making waves in Country circuits.

Margaret Qualley originally trained as a ballerina, performing at the American Ballet Theatre and joining the North Carolina Dance Company.  She was apprenticed at the French Academy in New York, before moving to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.

Naturally the latter signalled a shift in outlook, whereby Margaret now sought to follow in her mother's footsteps as an actress.

Here she is in her most famous role to date, as Jill Garvey in The Leftovers.

Whitewashing Death Note Again? White American Actress in Misa Amane Role

If true, the casting of Margaret Qualley as Misa is bound to cause controversy, just as did the role of Light Yagami linked with Nat Wolff. 

Neither American actors are ethnically Japanese, though they will be portraying Japanese characters. While Hollywood is long past getting away with blackening white actors faces to play other races, the industry stands accused of employing its modern equivalent to endemic proportions.

In short, ethnically Asian actors need not apply for leading roles in Hollywood pictures, not even when the parts up for grabs are Asian characters.  As North American actor Edward Zo discovered, when he sought to audition for Light Yagami.

The furore here is already raging, as regards Death Note's US live action film. Margaret Qualley's casting in the role of Misa Amane is unlikely to help matters there.

Though in fairness, Misa looks less Asian than Margaret.
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