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Thor: Ragnarok Writer Reveals Live-Action Ga-Rei TV Series Project

posted on by Karen Ressler
Hajime Segawa's supernatural action manga inspired anime in 2008

Thor producer and Thor: Ragnarok co-writer Craig Kyle revealed in a keynote appearance at the Japan Content Showcase in Tokyo last Tuesday that he is developing a live-action television series based on Hajime Segawa's Ga-Rei manga. He noted that he is working on a pilot and a character bible.

The Hollywood Reporter mentioned that the television series under development tells the story of two young girls "destined to define the fate of the living and the dead." The description more closely resembles the story of Ga-Rei's prequel anime Ga-Rei: Zero than that of the original manga.

Kyle praised the source material's "wonderful characters" and said it is the "one component, above all else, that will guarantee a success if handled properly by those you entrust with those characters and the IP." He added, "Everyone who wants the next Game of Thrones, I will make the bold statement that Ga-Rei has that potential."

Kyle also spoke broadly about adapting Japanese source material. Japan is a "treasure trove" of stories and characters that "far exceed what we have done in the States," he said, but he encouraged Japanese content owners to hold adaptations to high standards. He referenced casting of Scarlett Johansson in the live-action Ghost in the Shell film, saying she "was wonderful in some roles but was never meant to be the lead in that story."

Segawa (Tokyo ESP) published the supernatural action manga Ga-Rei from 2006 to 2010 and Kadokawa published the series in 12 compiled volumes. The now defunct JManga app previously distributed in English, and now all volumes are available in English on Kadokawa's BookWalker app.

Kadokawa describes the story:

Kensuke Nimura has always been able to see spirits, but he never expected to find himself helping a girl named Kagura who battles evil spirits with her spirit beast, Byakuei. As it turns out, she's a member of the Ministry of the Environment's top-secret Occult Disaster Response Agency, and she's out to recruit him, too...

The manga inspired the Ga-Rei: Zero prequel television anime in 2008 and Funimation released the series on home video in North America.

The Hollywood Reporter (Georg Szalai)

Thanks to Daniel Khuu for the news tip.


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