Toronto 2011: Samuel Hadida Options Film Rights to 'Golgo 13'

2:59 PM PDT 9/10/2011 by Pamela McClintock

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Writer-illustrator Takao Saito's series is the longest-running Japanese manga in history.

TORONTO — Samuel Hadida’s Davis Film has acquired the film rights from Leed Publishing Co. Ltd. to the Japanese cult classic Golgo 13, the longest-running manga in history from writer-illustrated Takao Saito.

•Toronto International Fil...

Hadida hopes to turn the 40-year-old series into a big-screen feature franchise. Golgo 13 has already been made into two live-action films (the first starring Ken Takahura, the second, Sonny Chiba), two animated pics, a television series and various video games.

Golgo 13, otherwise known as “Duke Togo,” is a hired gun sniper with unbelievable combat skills, a cross between Dirty Harry and James Bond.

“We are unbelievably excited about this great property, and the opportunity to bring it to the big-screen,” Hadida said. “I have long admired Takao Saito’s great work as one of the top gekiga style artists. We are looking forward to bringing his style sensibilities and this great character to worldwide film audiences.”

The deal was brokered for Davis by Tetsu Fujimura at Filosophia, Inc.

Davis Films is known for its successful adaptations of Japanese media, including Crying Freeman, Silent Hill, and the Resident Evil films.