Netflix Negotiating Rights To Manga series Death Note

Netflix is in the final stages of negotiations for rights to a film adaptation of the popular Manga series Death Note.

Written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata, the original Manga follows Light Yagami, a high school student who discovers a supernatural notebook that gives him the power to kill anyone whose name he writes in it. The story has already been adapted into video games and short films. Back in 2006, the story was also adapted for the big screen in Japan, and earned itself a sequel.

Roy Lee, Dan Lin, Jason Hoffs and Masi Oka are slated to produce the project.

Fantastic Four’s Jeremy Slater wrote the most recent draft of the film’s script, while Shane Black was at one point set to direct. Doug Davison and Brian Witten will executive produce.

Actors Nat Wolff (Paper Towns) and Margaret Qualley (The Leftovers) have already been cast. If Netflix wins the bid, production on the feature would begin in June.