I haven’t seen the original anime from 2016 (I want to and actually hope to soon as possible), but I’m keen on the kind of harrowing love story that Webb may be able to achieve here with a plot that centers on two distant high schoolers who are drawn closer while mysteriously switching bodies ahead of a disastrous event. Screenwriter Eric Heiserrer (Arrival) is penning Webb’s vision that centers instead on a young Native American woman living in a rural area, and a young man from Chicago.
Instantly, grievances behind Americanizing a beloved Japanese property that’s gotten rave reviews take center stage, which is completely understandable considering the current environment in the film industry on matters of inclusivity. That being said, we don’t know who’s been cast or what will happen just yet, but for what it’s worth, Kawamura Genki who produced the 2016 animated movie, is sharing some optimism here.
Said Kawamura: “Marc was our first choice to direct this refashioned interpretation of the film from the moment we explored creating an American version. As we saw in (500) Days Of Summer, Marc has a tremendous talent for telling great love stories and in the same way moviegoers were captivated by the original film, we are certain Marc will engage fans of the original and an entirely new audience for these characters’ beautiful journey. With J.J. Abrams producing, Eric Heisserer writing and Marc directing, this project officially has the team we dreamed about.”
Kawamura is also on board to produce with Lindsey Weber exec producing. Paramount is taking on the film’s wide release outsid of Toho’s domain in Japan.
Sans the Japan setting, here’s a taste of what’s to come.
