Three Junji Ito Horror Short Stories Confirmed To Get Live-Action Films

Pan-Asian film and entertainment studio Through the Lens Entertainment has joined forces with renowned horror brand Fangoria Studios to produce a series of live-action films based on Junji Ito’s works.

According to them, the partnership aimed to redefine the horror and manga experience, promising an innovative, culturally appropriate new manga films and accurate manga adaptations.

The first three projects in this collaboration are adaptations of Ito’s The Mystery of the Haunted House Parts 1 and 2, as well as the previously announced Bloodsucking Darkness. All three films are set to enter creative development later this summer, with production scheduled for 2025 and 2026.

Leading the production efforts at Fangoria Studios are Armen Aghaeian, Tara Ansley, and Abhi Goel, who will work alongside Junji Ito himself.

Kutami Yasu and Yamaguchi Tsubasa of Amuse Group USA, along with Through the Lens Entertainment’s Aditya Chand and Jay Van Hoy, will also play key roles in the production.

Indie producer Carlos Aguirre, who brokered the deal between Fangoria and Through the Lens Entertainment, will serve as an executive producer on the films.

Armen Aghaeian, SVP of Fangoria Studios, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “It’s important to recognize the universal appeal of horror stories; there’s no better way to commence our partnership with Through the Lens Entertainment than with the legendary horror author and artist Ito’s stories. After all, everyone screams in the same language.”

Aditya Chand, founder of Through the Lens Entertainment, highlighted the significance of culturally sensitive adaptations, saying, “Working with a visionary manga creator like [Ito] Junji, alongside a cornerstone platform of horror culture with Fangoria, pushes the boundaries of what east-west collaboration can achieve in the modern age. Manga adaptation must be adapted in a culturally sensitive way, where there is a balance of Japanese nuance combined with the sensibilities of innovative horror, allowing for a new cinematic experience for enthusiasts and manga fans.”

Source: Variety, Screen Daily