Back in 2014 it looked like we might be getting an adaptation of the classic Japanese Manga Death Note, directed by Good Will Hunting and Milk’s Gus Van Sant. That never happened, but now we’re getting one from Adam Wingard, the man behind You’re Next, The Guest, Blair Witch and the upcoming Godzilla vs. Kong.
However, it’s already stirred controversy for changing the ethnicity and cultural origins of the characters, with petitions and calls for a boycott against the film.
Here’s the synopsis: ‘Based on the famous Japanese manga written by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata, Death Note follows a high school student who comes across a supernatural notebook, realizing it holds within it a great power; if the owner inscribes someone’s name into it while picturing their face, he or she will die. Intoxicated with his new godlike abilities, the young man begins to kill those he deems unworthy of life.
‘The Netflix original film is directed by Adam Wingard (Blair Witch, You’re Next) and stars Nat Wolff (Paper Towns), Margaret Qualley (The Leftovers), Lakeith Stanfield (Get Out), Paul Nakauchi (Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End), Shea Whigham (American Hustle) and Willem Dafoe (Spider-Man) as the voice of Ryuk.’
The film will debut exclusively on Netflix on August 25th. Take a look at the new trailer below. [Read more…]