J.J. Abrams to adapt Your Name
If Death Note, Ghost in the Shell, and Dragonball Evolution have taught us anything, it’s that Hollywood should probably lay off the live-action remakes of classic anime. Since Hollywood never learns its lesson, though, it looks like we’re getting a live-action interpretation of Your Name from J.J. Abrams.
According to Deadline, Paramount Pictures and Bad Robot are teaming up with Toho to adapt the immensely successful Japanese film. Oscar nominee Eric Heisserer of Arrival is also attached to write the screenplay.
If you’re not familiar with Your Name, the story centers on two strangers that somehow keep swapping bodies. In addition to receiving critical acclaim, Makoto Shinkai’s film became the fourth highest-grossing movie in Japan, right behind Spirited Away, Titanic, and Frozen.
Given Hollywood’s track record with live-action anime, there’s certainly reason to be concerned here. If the filmmakers can finally learn from the mistakes of the past, though, they just might be able to pull it off. If not, at least we’ll always the original, as well as Freaky Friday.