Up for release in 2016, Death Note: Year One was a US live-action movie based on the manga. There was a $15m budget attached to the project.
Sometime over the past few days, its IMDb listing has disappeared. It had been there for well over a couple of years. Here's how it looked until recently:
Sometime over the past few days, its IMDb listing has disappeared. It had been there for well over a couple of years. Here's how it looked until recently:
Death Note: Year One (IMDd screenshot: September 1st 2014)
However, this wasn't the much discussed Warner Bros epic, due to be directed by Adam Wingard. The studio here was Wonder Works Films. Its director was Joseph 'Yossi' Bechor, who - along with Julie Paupe - was also the movie's scriptwriter.
For more on what it purported to be, read the Death Note News article about it from this time last year: 15m Dollar Budget for new Wonder Works Films US Adaptation Death Note: Year One.
So what's happened? Where has it gone? What do we know?
For more on what it purported to be, read the Death Note News article about it from this time last year: 15m Dollar Budget for new Wonder Works Films US Adaptation Death Note: Year One.
So what's happened? Where has it gone? What do we know?
 Death Note: Year One (CinemaRx screenshot October 7th 2015) | Death Note: Year One is still heralded elsewhere, like CinemaRx (pictured left) - which granted doesn't have much more information about it. Nor is there anything on that site which suggests that this movie is still a thing. It could just as easily be a listing which the promoters forgot to remove. Though, according to that site, Death Note: Year One is currently IN production. Not scrapped at all. Just not with any details like where, film-makers, cast, plot etc. Just like in September 2014 - the last time Death Note News researched this story - there is very little on-line about the Death Note: Year One film at all. In fact, just three mentions of the movie to highlight:
All of which ask pretty much what we've been asking with no further information to add into the mix. |
Did Warner Bros Get Death Note: Year One Film Listing Taken Down?
I can't help but wonder if this was never officially sanctioned by the copyright holders, and now Warner Bros have leaned upon the studio.
After all, Warner Bros has two Death Note movies of its own to produce and market for release in 2016. The company probably wouldn't welcome any potential confusion with similar sounding projects listed right alongside Death Note 2016 and its US live-action counterpart.
Which does make you wonder how Wonder Works Films and its CEO - the ubiquitous Yossi Bechor - thought they would get away with it in the first place.
After all, Warner Bros has two Death Note movies of its own to produce and market for release in 2016. The company probably wouldn't welcome any potential confusion with similar sounding projects listed right alongside Death Note 2016 and its US live-action counterpart.
Which does make you wonder how Wonder Works Films and its CEO - the ubiquitous Yossi Bechor - thought they would get away with it in the first place.
Yossi Bechor: Erstwhile US Live Action Death Note Movie Director
Since we last looked, there is slightly more information on-line about Death Note: Year One's script-writing director Yossi Bechor. For a start, his sparsely populated biography on IMDb:
Yossi Bechor biography on IMDb (Screenshot October 7th 2015)
However, that's a much reduced listing these days than its been in the past. Usually Bechor's sceen credits go on for pages and include plenty of block-busters alongside less known Indie film titles.
Joseph Bechor profile at Stage 32 (Screenshot October 6th 2015)
Like his listing at Stage 32, which has Joseph Bechor working for several major studios simultaneously.
None of which are Wonder Works Films, nor those others mentioned on his LinkedIn profile - Twisted Films and HorrorFilx (GB).
His company website there links to RSA Films.
Am I missing something here?
Apparently Kill Bill is. According to Bechor's Stage 32 credits, he was the co-executive producer on that movie in 2005. Which must come as news to Quentin Tarantino, as no Kill Bill credit list mentions Joseph Bechor at all, nor under his nickname Yossi Bechor, nor (just for completion) is he named anywhere near Kill Bill 2.
Plus the film came out in 2003, not 2005.
This time last year, our look at Death Note: Year One and Yossi Bechor conclude that it was some kind of ornate trollfest. I have to say, I've uncovered nothing this time around to make me alter that view one iota.
Safe to say that this is one live action Death Note movie which won't see the light of day, and therefore I'll leave it there.
None of which are Wonder Works Films, nor those others mentioned on his LinkedIn profile - Twisted Films and HorrorFilx (GB).
His company website there links to RSA Films.
Am I missing something here?
Apparently Kill Bill is. According to Bechor's Stage 32 credits, he was the co-executive producer on that movie in 2005. Which must come as news to Quentin Tarantino, as no Kill Bill credit list mentions Joseph Bechor at all, nor under his nickname Yossi Bechor, nor (just for completion) is he named anywhere near Kill Bill 2.
Plus the film came out in 2003, not 2005.
This time last year, our look at Death Note: Year One and Yossi Bechor conclude that it was some kind of ornate trollfest. I have to say, I've uncovered nothing this time around to make me alter that view one iota.
Safe to say that this is one live action Death Note movie which won't see the light of day, and therefore I'll leave it there.
