Threshold Entertainment, producers of the MORTAL KOMBAT film franchise, has acquired the rights to NINJA SCROLL from Japanese anime studio Madhouse. Threshold is currently in development on a $60 million live-action feature film based on the 1994 anime film by director Yoshiaki Kawajiri (VAMPIRE HUNTER D). The company hopes to cultivate the property into their next martial arts franchise and plans to produce a television series, live stage tours and video games based on the film. NINJA SCROLL is set in feudal Japan and follows the adventures of Jubei, a ninja mercenary, who is thrust into the middle of a war when the entire population of a small village is wiped out by a mysterious plague. Threshold Entertainment’s digital animation and effects subsidiary, Threshold Digital Research Labs (TDRL), will supervise the visual effects. Threshold CEO Larry Kasanoff will produce with Alison Savitch, George Johnsen and Joshua Wexler. Hikaru Sasahara will serve as co-producer.


Fred Patten reviews the latest anime releases including VAMPIRE HUNTER D: BLOODLUST.