This year has already seen the debut of a new anime version of Junji Ito’s twisted stories, Junji Ito’s Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre, on Netflix. While fans await word on the long-awaited Toonami anime, Junji Ito’s Uzumaki, another adaptation appears to be in the works. Fangoria Studios has announced that it will be collaborating with screenwriter Jeff Howard to bring Bloodsucking Darkness to life in a live-action film.
Jeff Howard’s work in the eerie environment may be familiar to horror aficionados, as the executive producer for the upcoming Junji Ito adaptation was involved in the production of such horror titles as The Haunting of Hill House, Midnight Mass, and Oculus, to mention a few. In a press release promoting the upcoming horror film, Howard stated:
“When I found out a live-action Junji Ito adaptation was going to happen, I chased after it with everything I had, because I just couldn’t live with anyone else getting there before me. The combination of fear and feelings is where I always want to be.”
The narrative about blood-drinking bats and other nighttime monsters is one of many horror stories Ito has written in his career, with this campfire yarn centered on a young woman who has an unfortunate run-in with a man who is a bit too preoccupied with the flying rodents. Rather than just biting a victim on the neck, these vampiric assaults are more realistic, and hence potentially more horrible.
According to Fangoria Studios, this is the first of three films that will adapt Ito’s terrifying stories from the anthology “Smashed,” and trust us, there are some disturbing shorts to select from. When it came to adapting Ito’s stories, Armen Aghaeian, Senior Vice President at Fangoria Studios, said, “Ito’s stories and visuals are pure nightmare fuel. The team at Fangoria is honored to be working alongside Junji Ito. We are excited to bring the horror found in the pages of his work to life onto the biggest screens possible.”
Will you be watching the Junji Ito Hollywood adaptation? Share your thoughts with us!
Read More: Junji Ito Will Start a New Short Manga in February 2023