Better late than never?
With Japanese cult classic Battle Royale receiving a 3D makeover for an upcoming theatrical re-release in its home nation word is out that a full ten years after its initial release Battle Royale will finally be available in North America.
Anchor Bay have reportedly taken rights to the 3D re-do, the original version of Battle Royale plus the (greatly inferior) sequel. It appears that in the Japanese press releases production house Toei is blaming the delay in US release on fears of post-Columbine backlash on behalf of the US distribs, a claim which is patently false. If there were fears of political or legal backlash to releasing a film about teen violence so close on the heels of actual teen violence then those fears were on the part of Toei themselves, not the local distributors, several of whom made multiple bids to buy the rights to the film when it was initially released and over several years following only to be told bluntly that the company was not interested in selling at the time. The exact reasons for the initial refusal have never been clear nor is the thinking behind this new reversal of policy. That said, you know, better late than never.
With Japanese cult classic Battle Royale receiving a 3D makeover for an upcoming theatrical re-release in its home nation word is out that a full ten years after its initial release Battle Royale will finally be available in North America.
Anchor Bay have reportedly taken rights to the 3D re-do, the original version of Battle Royale plus the (greatly inferior) sequel. It appears that in the Japanese press releases production house Toei is blaming the delay in US release on fears of post-Columbine backlash on behalf of the US distribs, a claim which is patently false. If there were fears of political or legal backlash to releasing a film about teen violence so close on the heels of actual teen violence then those fears were on the part of Toei themselves, not the local distributors, several of whom made multiple bids to buy the rights to the film when it was initially released and over several years following only to be told bluntly that the company was not interested in selling at the time. The exact reasons for the initial refusal have never been clear nor is the thinking behind this new reversal of policy. That said, you know, better late than never.
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"That said, you know, better late than never."
Yeah, but, even with the 3D thing going on, does anybody really care anymore? Maybe we'll get some cool features out of it. Tarantino loves it. Maybe they can get him to do a commentary.
I heard this news isn't actually true.
When you say "original version" do you mean the original, superior cut of the film, or do you mean the 2D version of the inferior "Director's Cut" version? Or is this not known?
I'd assume they're talking about the one the 3D version's based on, Which I've heard is the extended Director's Cut version.
Do people care? There's still people talking about BR and it's been mentioned in quite a few teen flicks lately, so I figure that there's still enough interest in the property to warrant a U.S. release. Who knows? Maybe this will be the next franchise Hollywood'll milk after Scream/Saw?
WOW amazing news, I wonder how Tarantino is taking it?
He's been lobbying Toho for the rights to this film for over a decade!
If Anchor Bay is smart they'll approach Tarantino to write and direct the US version, It will need the treatment of someone who appreciates the original enough to capture the spirit of the original film.
The most surprising thing about this news is that Anchor Bay is still picking up older catalog titles. Maybe I haven't been paying attention, but I thought they stopped doing that a while back.
I remember many years back asking John Sirabella from Media Blasters why they (and nobody else) hadn't picked up BR. He said it was all about money, pure and simple. Toei knew it would bank in the US, and they wanted a ridiculous amount for the rights.
I'm glad it is finally getting a US release, but I'm concerned that the acquisition of US rights is the prelude to a remake. Personally, I think Sony or Dreamworks should nut up and try to make a proper movie based on the novel. We don't need a watered down teeny bopper version of the Kinji Fukasaku film.