Magnet Releasing Acquires North American Rights to Legendary Director Takashi Miike's Action Epic 'Blade of the Immortal'
CANNES (May 12, 2017) – Magnet Releasing, the genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, announced today that they have acquired North American rights to BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL, the highly-anticipated new title from legendary Japanese director Takashi Miike, which is his 100th film.
Takuya Kimura, one of Japan's biggest stars (HERO, HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE), plays the lead alongside newcomer Hana Sugisaki. Sôta Fukushi and Ebizô Ichikawa (13 ASSASSINS, HARA KIRI: DEATH OF A SAMURAI) round out the cast with veterans Min Tanaka and Tsutomu Yamazaki. BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL marks the second collaboration between Miike and Magnet, following 2011's wildly successful samurai masterpiece 13 ASSASSINS.
The film will have its international premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in Official Selection next week, marking the third title Magnolia/Magnet has in this year's festival, after Arnaud Desplechin's opener ISMAEL'S GHOSTS and Ruben Östlund's THE SQUARE.
Based on Hiroaki Samura's long-running manga of the same name, BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL follows an immortal warrior who is enlisted by a young girl to avenge her parents' slaughter at the hand of a group of master swordsmen. Magnet plans to release the film later this year.
“We've been huge fans of Miike for a long time and couldn't be more excited to work with him again on BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL,” said Magnolia President Eamonn Bowles. “The action and fight choreography in this film are both visceral and balletic. They're on another level.”
“I'm pleased to present my latest film,” said Miike. “It is a Samurai Action about an immortal warrior. Love and tears splatter with arms, legs and heads that are chopped and splattered. I hope the audience will be prepared for this and enjoy the film.”
Directed by Takashi Miike, BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL was written by Tetsuya Oishi and produced by Jeremy Thomas, Misako Saka, and Shigeji Maeda, with Warner Bros. Japan.
The deal was negotiated by Magnolia co-EVP Dori Begley and Magnolia SVP of Acquisitions John Von Thaden, with Gabrielle Stewart and Nicole Mackey at HanWay Films on behalf of the filmmakers.
About MAGNET RELEASING
Magnet is the genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, specializing in films from the vanguard of horror, action, comedy and Asian cinema, and the home of genre classics like Tomas Alfredson's LET THE RIGHT ONE IN, Takeshi Miike's 13 ASSASSINS, Christopher Smith's BLACK DEATH, Ti West's THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL, Andre Ovredal's TROLLHUNTER, Gareth Edward's MONSTERS, Neil Marshall's sword and sandals bloodbath CENTURION, and Tony Jaa's ONG BAK trilogy to name a few. Recent releases include the terrifying V/H/S and ABCS OF DEATH anthologies, Xan Cassavettes' stylish vampire film KISS OF THE DAMNED, Ti West's THE SACRAMENT, Israeli thriller BIG BAD WOLVES, Ben Wheatley's dystopian thriller HIGH-RISE, Nicolas Pesce's genre-defying THE EYES OF MY MOTHER, Christopher Smith's neo-noir thriller DETOUR, and all-female-helmed horror anthology film XX.
About HANWAY FILMS
HanWay Films is a UK based international sales company specializing in quality, high-profile and commercially driven films from visionary filmmakers around the world. Established in 1998 by producer Jeremy Thomas, HanWay offers full solutions, arranging financing, sales, marketing and distribution. HanWay has long-term global producing partnerships and represents films from Recorded Picture Company along with projects from third party producers, in addition to an extensive catalogue of over five hundred feature films.
HanWay's slate includes four titles in Official Selection at the Cannes Film Festival; Yorgos Lanthimos' THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER starring Nicole Kidman and Colin Farrell which will receive its World Premiere In Competition, Takashi Miike's BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL, John Cameron Mitchell's HOW TO TALK TO GIRLS AT PARTIES, and Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire's A PRAYER BEFORE DAWN all which will screen Out of Competition. HanWay also represents Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje's FARMING starring Damson Idris, Kate Beckinsale and Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Kim Nguyen's high-speed drama THE HUMMINGBIRD PROJECT starring Jesse Eisenberg and Alexander Skarsgård, Stanley Tucci's FINAL PORTRAIT which received its World Premiere at the 2017 Berlinale; Haifaa Al Mansour's MARY SHELLEY starring Elle Fanning, and, coming up; Ralph Fiennes' Nureyev thriller THE WHITE CROW, Matteo Garrone's PINOCCHIO starring Toni Servillo, SWEETNESS IN THE BELLY from director Zeresenay Mehari starring Saoirse Ronan; Oliver Parker's SWIMMING WITH MEN, and Wash Westmoreland's COLETTE, starring Keira Knightley and Dominic West.
