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Space Pirate Captain Harlock Manga's Live-Action Rights Acquired by Film World Studios

A website for a company named Film World Studios posted an early teaser trailer on Tuesday to reveal that the company acquired the live-action rights to Leiji Matsumoto's Space Pirate Captain Harlock manga. The announcement specifically notes that the rights are based on the original manga, and not Toei Animation's subsequent anime adaptation.

Film World Studios also has a Facebook page and Twitter account for the company, and a Facebook page for the live-action film project.

In the Facebook page for the project, Film World Studios posted a statement in English, French, Japanese, and Chinese.

"Film World Studios, llc" is extremely proud and privileged to announce the acquisition of the live action rights of Leiji Matsumoto's comic book "Space Pirate Captain Harlock".

(Not to be confused with the Toei Animation series of the same name inspired by the comic book which we hold no rights).

All of you who are reading this (fans and audience alike) know the genius of Leiji Matsumoto throughout his other works such as "Galaxy Express 999" and many other fascinating stories and characters...

Stay tuned as we'll make other announcements soon as far as who will be directing this wonderful film and the question that's burning on everyone's lips : Who will be playing "Captain Harlock" in the live action movie?"

The company has been streaming seven videos since last week that tease the project. The videos reveal the spaceship Arcadia and Captain Harlock, as well as the crew members Tadashi Daiba, Kei Yuki, Miime, and Yattaran. The videos counted down to Wednesday.

Japanese retailer Manga Zenkan's description for the "complete edition" of Leiji Matsumoto's Space Pirate Captain Harlock manga in October featured a description that states, "Now, the plans for an Italian and Hollywood live-action film adaptation are moving forward."

In Matsumoto's original 1977-79 Space Pirate Captain Harlock manga, the title character rebels against Earth's inept government and fights for humanity with his crew of 40 aboard the invincible space battleship Arcadia.

The manga inspired a 1978-1979 television anime from Toei Animation, and Crunchyroll and Funimation streamed the series. The television anime in turn inspired anime feature films, original video anime, and the sequel Arcadia of My Youth: Endless Orbit SSX. AnimEigo released the Arcadia of My Youth film in North America in 2003.

The story also inspired a CG film in 2013. Video streaming service Netflix released the film in English in 2014, Ketchup Entertainment released the film on DVD, and Twilight Time released the film on Blu-ray Disc.

Seven Seas Entertainment is releasing Matsumoto and Kōichi Shimahoshi's Captain Harlock: Dimensional Voyage (Captain Harlock: Jigen Kōkai manga in October, and Discotek Media will releasethe Captain Harlock Endless Orbit SSX (Arcadia of My Youth: Endless Orbit SSX) television anime on DVD.

Thanks to Gwyn Campbell for the news tip