Christophe Gans To Direct $70m Onimusha, Upcoming 2009 Release

[Roger]

Gans in the game for fantasy adventure
Jeremy Kay
Christophe Gans has signed to direct the $70m-plus epic adventure
Onimusha for Samuel Hadida's Davis Films.

Gans previously collaborated with Hadida on the worldwide hits Silent
Hill and Brotherhood Of The Wolf and will arrive on the Croisette on
Sunday to meet buyers.

Several studios are believed to be circling the adaptation of Capcom's
global video game smash and Jere Hausfater's Essential Entertainment
has reported intense early interest from international buyers.

Leslie Kruger and Master And Commander screenwriter John Collee are
adapting the story about a samurai warrior who embarks on a quest to
save the woman he loves and the entire world from long prophesied
demons.

Production is scheduled to start in February 2008 in China in time for
delivery by December 2009.

"I have loved the Onimusha story for years and am overjoyed to have
the opportunity now to bring it to life for worldwide film audiences
and to access the unparalleled film resources of China to do so on the
scale that the story demands," Gans said.

"There is nothing else in the marketplace like Onimusha," Hadida
added. "It combines swashbuckling adventure, passion, and heroic
destiny on an epic scale.

"I have worked with Christophe on three successful productions and am
confident that he brings the ideal vision to realise this incredible
story."

"I'm thrilled to continue my relationship with Sammy," Hausfater said.
"This film has enough elements to satisfy everybody and will provide
unforgettable entertainment of the grandest scale."

Davis Films is currently in pre-production on Michael J Bassett's
comic book adaptation Solomon Kane and Louis-Pascal Couvelaire's
action title Killing Suki Flood, both of which are being sold here by
Essential.
http://www.screendaily.com/

[edwardmblake]

Since when did Garth Brooks start directing movies?