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My dreams of a live-action Vinland Saga might become reality

Major manga publisher brings its library to Hollywood with new live-action studio

Image: Wit Studio/Sentai Filmworks

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If you ever dreamed of seeing popular manga and anime such as Vinland Saga, Blue Lock, and Akira getting a live-action adaptation (or, in the case of Attack on Titan, a good live-action), that day may not be far away. Kodansha Studios is a new global studio dedicated to bringing the library of Japanese publisher Kodansha to life, with writer-director Chloé Zhao and producer Nicolas Gonda at the helm, Deadline reported Monday.

Zhao (Nomadland, Eternals) will serve as chief creative officer, while Gonda will be president and chief operations officer. The duo already works together in the production company Book of Shadows, founded in 2022, which will continue to operate as a separate entity.

Kodansha Studios will reportedly develop classic manga series for film and television.

“I love being a part of the fandoms,” Zhao said in a statement, “and I feel a deep sense of belonging with people around the world who share their love for these characters and stories.” Together with Gonda, the duo aim to connect international filmmakers with Japanese manga authors.

“The establishment of Kodansha Studios represents a pivotal moment – and a new chapter – in the relationship between Japanese publishers and Hollywood,” Yoshinobu Noma, Kodansha CEO, told Deadline. The company is one of the oldest Japanese publishing houses. Along with rivals Kadokawa and Shueisha, Kodansha dominates the manga market. Some of the popular series in its library include global hits such as Attack on Titan and Blue Lock, classics like Akira, and modern isekai phenomenon That Time I Reincarnated as a Slime.

Image: MAPPA/Crunchyroll

Personally, the Kodansha property I’m most excited to see translated into live action is Vinland Saga by Makoto Yukimura. A historical tale of revenge, strife, and freedom set in 11th-century Europe, Vinland Saga is a rare masterpiece that could easily be adapted into live action thanks to its grounded story and realistic action. While its first season would look similar to Vikings, with its focus on bloodshed, the following part of the story is a deep meditation on violence, pacifism, and finding one’s place in the world. The anime by Wit Studio and MAPPA did a great job of adapting the manga.

Live-action adaptations of manga have a bad reputation, and with good reason. We all wish we could scrape the memory of Dragon Ball Evolution from our brains, but then Netflix’s One Piece came around and showed that it’s possible to make a good live-action show based on a manga (and make money in the process). Kodansha went one step further with the opening of this studio, and I’m curious to see what their first project will be.

In addition to co-leading Kodansha Studio, Zhao is also responsible for a reboot of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, with Sarah Michelle Gellar returning as Buffy Summers. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale is expected to arrive in 2026.