Live Action Blood: The Last Vampire

Production I.G has announced that 'Blood: The Last Vampire,' produced in 2000, will be made into a live action movie by company French Pathe. Production I.G has given it's consent. Pathe will spend approximately 20 million Euro (US$25 million) on the production. With shooting scheduled

to start in January 2007, a worldwide theatrical release is expected in spring 2008.

The original movie won best animation at the 4th Japan Media Arts Festival and spawned a TV-series 'Blood+' produced from 2005 to 2006. Copyright holder Production I.G. gave it's consent for a live action production by French Pathe through American video distributor Manga Entertainment.

Pathe is the largest independent film studio in France, producing movies, distributing them and managing their movie licenses. The movie will be produced by Bill Kong (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon; Hero) and directed by Ronny Yu (Freddy vs. Jason). Ji-hyun Jun (My Sassy Girl, Windstruck) will star as lead Saya. The international production aims for a world wide audience.

Production I.G was not payed for the license, but will instead to receive royalties from all revenue created by the movie. Generally, when manga and
anime are adapted into live-action movies outside of Japan, remake rights are usually sold for a flat fee, which in the case of a hit, bars the original copyright holder of further revenue.

If the movie is a hit, this will lead to a sharp increase in revenue through ticket and dvd sales. Since the movie's theatrical release is expected in spring 2008, impact on Production I.G's profits is likely to be seen 2009 or later.