After his Fast Five turned out to be some of the most fun one could have during a summer blockbuster last year, we’ve been waiting to hear what director Justin Lin would be helming next, aside from another sequel of course. We got a batch of possible titles way back last August, but now one has risen to the top. Deadline is reporting that an adaptation of the manga Lone Wolf and Cub is gaining traction with new writers and producers.
Kamala Films have come aboard and hired writers David and Janet Peoples, the duo who was behind Twelve Monkeys and the former having a hand in Blade Runner and Unforgiven. Lin describes the project, based on Kazuo Koike’s Japanese manga from the 1970s, as being “powerful” and “epic.” One can check out a longer synopsis below.
The original was set feudal Edo period, and chronicles the story of Ogami Itto, the Shogun’s elite executioner. In an attempt to take his position, the rival Yagyu clan falsely accuses Itto of a crime and murders his wife. Disgraced, Itto is forced to wander Japan with his three-year-old son Daigoro as an assassin for hire, earning the title “Lone Wolf and Cub.” Ultimately, Itto and Daigoro seek revenge on the Yagyu clan. Koike’s manga, published in the United States by Dark Horse Comics, is considered a seminal work.
With Lin’s direction excelling Fast Five far beyond its previous incarnations, I’ve been eager to see him associate with more promising script material and this looks to be the answer. Hopefully he’ll get a jump on this after The Fast and the Furious 6 arrives on May 24th, 2013.
Have you read the original manga? Is it worthy of a film adaptation by this talent?