The story of Death Note revolves around Light Yagami, a highly intelligent and jaded teenager who discovers a supernatural notebook that can kill anyone whose name is written in it.
Despite its relatively short existence as a manga series, Death Note has already received a staggering number of adaptations since its completion in 2006. While most manga can only hope for one or two adaptations, Death Note has been adapted five times and has yet another adaptation on the way. This is a testament to the series’ immense popularity and lasting impact on pop culture. Death Note Manga Gets Adapted: Explore the Dark Story through Its Comic Versions.
The story of Death Note revolves around Light Yagami, a highly intelligent and jaded teenager who discovers a supernatural notebook that can kill anyone whose name is written in it. With the goal of creating a new world adhering to his moral standards, Light uses the notebook to kill criminals end masse and seeks to become an absolute ruler. This sets the stage for a high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse between Light and a reclusive detective named L, who becomes suspicious of Light’s actions.
What sets Death Note apart from other manga series is the complexity of the game played between Light and L, as well as the involvement of other players and obstacles. The story spans over 100 chapters and keeps readers on the edge of their seats with its twists and turns. Even after the series’ completion, Death Note continues to captivate audiences and inspire new adaptations. The fact that a series as young as Death Note has already received so many adaptations speaks to its enduring popularity and the impact it has had on the world of manga and anime. It is a must-read for anyone who enjoys gripping, thought-provoking storytelling with high stakes and complex characters.
Madhouse’s 2006-2007 anime adaptation of Death Note is widely regarded as the gold standard for adaptations of the series. Praised for its faithfulness to the manga and quality visuals, it has been hailed as one of the best anime series of its time. Theron Martin of Anime News Network described the show as a rare blend of originality, intelligence, and quality visuals that turns a horror-story concept into a thrilling, action-packed experience.
However, the success of the anime was just the beginning of Death Note’s journey to adaptation. The first live-action adaptation of the series came in the form of a trilogy of Japanese films released between 2006 and 2008. The first film condensed the first few chapters of the manga, while the second film, directed by Shusuke Kaneko, diverged from the original story to create a new outcome for the psychological battle between L and Light. This paved the way for a completely original story and ending in the third film, L: Change the World, directed by Hideo Nakata.
Despite the changes made in the live-action films, they were well-received by audiences and helped to cement Death Note’s place in pop culture. With the success of the anime and live-action adaptations, the series has gone on to receive multiple other adaptations, including a TV drama, a musical, and even a Netflix original film. Each adaptation has put its own spin on the story of Light and L, bringing the unique world of Death Note to new audiences and keeping the series relevant and beloved even years after its completion.
While the live-action Death Note films have seen some financial success and generally positive reviews, they are often criticized for falling short of the manga and anime in terms of quality. Reviewer Bamboo Dong noted that while the films could be enjoyable for those unfamiliar with the series, they failed to capture the complexity of Light’s character that made the original so compelling. Despite this, Dong also noted that the films still managed to capture the essence of L’s character, which may be enough to make them worth watching for some fans. Ultimately, while the live-action adaptations have their strengths, they are often seen as inferior to the source material and the anime adaptation, which are widely considered to be the best ways to experience the world of Death Note.
Early on in the release of the Death Note anime, fans began to notice the uncanny physical resemblance between Light (aka Kira) and American actor Zac Efron, who had just starred in the wildly popular High School Musical on Disney Channel. The absurdity of pairing the Disney-approved heartthrob with the ruthless megalomaniac Light quickly became a meme within the Death Note fan community, complete with dozens of side-by-side image comparisons and even a website dedicated to the idea that Efron should play Light in an American live-action adaptation. The meme continued to circulate for years, with fans continuing to joke about the bizarre pairing.
In 2008, rumors began circulating that Vlas and Charley Parlapanides were working on a screenplay for an American remake of Death Note for Vertigo Entertainment, a company known for Americanizing Japanese horror films such as The Ring and The Grudge. Fans of the original Japanese versions were skeptical, knowing that these adaptations generally missed the mark. However, some Death Note fans were still intrigued and wondered if the prophecy of casting Zac Efron as Light would come to fruition. The prospect of an Americanized version of Death Note was both exciting and concerning for fans, who wondered if the story would lose its essence in translation. Despite the uncertain reception, the buzz surrounding the remake continued to grow, and fans eagerly awaited news of the movie’s development.
In May 2009, news broke that Warner Brothers had acquired the rights to adapt the popular manga and anime series Death Note. The screenwriters, the Parlapanides brothers, were also announced to be working on the project. Actor Zac Efron expressed his admiration for Death Note during an interview with ELLEgirl while promoting his film 17 Again in Japan, fueling speculation that he might be cast as the lead character, Light Yagami.
However, excitement for the project turned to disappointment when a leaked version of the screenplay written by the Parlapanides brothers hit the internet in October of the same year. The leaked script was drastically different from the source material, with several changes made to the characters, plot, and themes. For instance, Light Yagami was no longer the genius high school student who discovers the Death Note and begins a moral crusade to rid the world of criminals. Instead, he was portrayed as a college student who discovers the Death Note after being wrongly accused of a crime. The changes were met with criticism from fans and eventually, the project was scrapped.
• The Death Note adaptation that was leaked online in 2009 was drastically different from the original source material. In this version, the protagonist is no longer the detached high school genius, Light Yagami, but a 21-year-old working college student named Luke Murray, living in New York.
• Unlike Light, Luke is portrayed as a compassionate individual who cares deeply about the people around him. The script begins with him saving a woman from being hit by a subway train, an act of heroism that sets the tone for his character.
• This adaptation also deviates from the original by eliminating several key characters, including Ryuk, Misa, Rem, and the Yotsuba Group. Additionally, characters from the second act of the original series, such as Mello, Near, Takada, and Mikami, are also absent. Overall, the leaked screenplay presented a radically different take on the Death Note story, one that was met with disappointment and criticism from fans of the original.
The leaked screenplay for the 2009 Death Note adaptation was met with disappointment and criticism from fans, who felt that it strayed too far from the original source material. The protagonist, Luke Murray, was a compassionate college student, unlike the detached Light Yagami from the manga. Several key characters from the manga were also missing, and the ending was drastically different. Despite rumors that actor Zac Efron was being considered for the role of Light, there were no significant updates on the project for over a year. However, in January 2011, Warner Bros. announced that they had hired director Shane Black and screenwriters Anthony Bagarozzi and Charles Mondry to work on a new Death Note movie.
Black expressed his admiration for the manga and his desire to stay true to its complex themes and spirituality. He was determined to avoid the pitfalls of simply copying the concept and turning it into a generic American thriller. The hiring of Black and his team was a game-changer for the Death Note project, and fans were hopeful that this new adaptation would do justice to the source material. However, it would still be several more years before the project saw the light of day.
The Death Note movie that eventually premiered on Netflix in 2017 was met with mixed reviews, with some fans feeling that it still deviated too much from the original story. Nevertheless, it was clear that the project had come a long way since the leaked screenplay of 2009. The casting of Nat Wolff as Light and Willem Dafoe as the voice of Ryuk generated some buzz, and the film’s visual style was praised by some critics.
In the end, the Death Note movie of 2017 was a reminder of the challenges involved in adapting a beloved manga for the screen. The project had gone through numerous ups and downs over the years, and it was clear that no single adaptation could satisfy all fans. Nevertheless, it was heartening to see that the spirit of the manga had inspired talented filmmakers like Shane Black and that the Death Note story continued to resonate with audiences around the world.
After the announcement of a new director and screenwriters for the Death Note movie, fans’ interest in the project was reignited, but not without some skepticism. Fans were wary of another Hollywood-made manga adaptation after the disappointment of 2009’s Dragonball: Evolution. Amidst the speculation, a joke about Robert Pattinson being cast as L gained traction among fans, leading to a flood of memes and fake movie posters featuring the actor in the role. The idea of Pattinson, known for his brooding portrayal of Edward Cullen in the Twilight series, playing the eccentric and disheveled L was a concept that fans couldn’t resist.
Shane Black’s direction of Death Note was shrouded in secrecy, with few details emerging beyond rumors of a power struggle between Black and WB over creative control. At Long Beach Comic Con in 2011, Black revealed that WB wanted the film to have wider appeal by eliminating the shinigami characters and giving Light a tragic backstory. However, Black was firmly opposed to these changes and refused to include them in his vision for the film.
As the years passed, updates on Death Note became increasingly scarce. In 2013, Black confirmed in an interview that the project was still in development, but offered no further details. Then, out of nowhere, in July 2014, it was announced that Gus Van Sant, best known for his work on Good Will Hunting and Milk, would be directing the film. This news was both sudden and confusing, particularly given that Death Note seemed like an odd fit for Van Sant’s typical style.
Despite the buzz generated by Van Sant’s involvement, no official statements were made by WB, Black, Van Sant, or the studios involved in the project. Fans were left to speculate on the reasoning behind the decision, and to wonder whether this sudden change would have any impact on the film’s development. Ultimately, the questions raised by Van Sant’s involvement were left unanswered, and Death Note remained shrouded in mystery. The project seemed to be plagued by setbacks and delays, leaving fans unsure whether the film would ever see the light of day.
Between June 30 and August 6, 2014, Death Note was quietly removed from Black’s IMDB page, confirming his departure from the project. Gus Van Sant was announced as the new director, but there were no major updates until Adam Wingard took over in 2015. Little is known about Van Sant’s brief time as director, which may be due to the lack of significant progress made during his tenure. Interestingly, two other live-action adaptations of Death Note were produced while WB was struggling to find a director: the Death Note: The Musical and another Japanese adaptation.
Death Note: The Musical, which was initially announced in 2013, brought some hope for fans of the series as well as the general public. The musical, which adhered closely to the manga’s storyline, was first performed in Japan and South Korea in 2015, and eventually diverged significantly from the original plot after Misa’s arrest. However, all of the main characters from the first act of Death Note are present and remain true to their character, and the story beats of Death Note are portrayed through catchy songs.
Following its initial runs in Japan and South Korea, Death Note: The Musical had additional runs in both countries in 2017, and in Japan in early 2020 before it closed early due to the pandemic. In 2022, the musical was performed in South Korea and Brazil, with concerts in Russia as well. However, despite the scriptwriter’s tweet in 2017 that an English version of Death Note: The Musical was “coming soon,” no such plans have been publicly announced yet.
The musical’s success and popularity suggest that fans of Death Note may be more receptive to adaptations that stay true to the source material. In contrast, Hollywood’s live-action adaptations have faced backlash and disappointment from fans. It remains to be seen whether an English version of the musical will come to fruition, but in the meantime, fans can enjoy the various international runs and concerts of Death Note: The Musical.
In 2015, another live-action adaptation of Death Note was released in Japan, this time as a television drama. The 11-episode series, which was available for streaming on Crunchyroll at the time, differed from previous adaptations by incorporating elements from the second act of the manga. The drama introduced new characters such as Near, Mello, and Mikami, but the story took a different direction from the source material.
While the Death Note drama was also criticized for its flaws, many fans still found it enjoyable and a worthy addition to the franchise. According to Rose Bridges of ANN, the drama’s unique take on the story made it thematically rewarding and satisfying for the series’ old and new fans. As Bridges wrote, “It’s what I like my adaptations to be—a mix of the old and the new—and it only got better at it neared its conclusion. The Death Note j-drama was everything I’d hoped for and a little more.”
Though the Death Note drama is no longer available on Crunchyroll, it remains a noteworthy entry in the series’ various adaptations, particularly for its incorporation of elements from the second act of the manga.
Also Read Upcoming Pokémon Anime: new Promo Video, Cast, Staff, and Visuals Unveiled
The much-anticipated Death Note movie from WB had been in development for almost a decade before Netflix stepped in to acquire the project. The announcement of who would be in charge of the screenplay and who would be playing Light were major decisions that needed to be made. While there were many who had speculated that Zac Efron would be playing the lead role, it was eventually given to Nat Wolff, causing shock and confusion among fans of the anime. Jeremy Slater was also brought in as the new screenwriter for the project. With a director, star, and screenwriter in place, progress was finally being made on the project. However, Netflix’s acquisition of the movie in 2016 meant that it would become a Netflix original, and production began shortly thereafter. The release date was set for August 25, 2017, almost ten years after the project had begun.
Despite the long wait, the movie was not well received. Fans of the original anime were disappointed by the film’s departure from the source material, while general audiences found the movie to be incoherent and poorly developed. However, the film’s flaws also made it an ironic favourite among fans of so-bad-it’s-good entertainment.
Jacob Chapman of ANN wrote, “Rather than being dull or disposable, Death Note 2017’s desire to be different no matter the cost gives the movie its own maverick charm, inimitable by the flood of safe remakes we forget one week after they hit theatres. There’s a trashy kind of triumph that rises from the uniquely poor decisions holding Death Note together, and every fan should watch it just once for a one-of-a-kind example of how adaptations can go wrong.” Overall, the long-awaited Death Note movie may not have lived up to fans’ expectations, but its many flaws also gave it a unique charm that has made it a cult favourite among fans of ironic entertainment.
With hindsight, it’s easy to see why Death Note has been adapted so many times. Its popularity upon release, enduring popularity, relatively short length, and grounded-in-reality premise make it a prime candidate for adaptation to live-action. However, this raises the question of whether manga/anime even needs to be brought into the live-action format. Anime/manga is a valid and valuable medium in its own right and does not require validation through live-action adaptation.
It’s important to note that not all anime live-action adaptations are bad, but the bad ones tend to be highly publicized and remembered more readily. Death Note is a prime example of this, with numerous adaptations, some of which are regarded as good, but others that are considered really, really bad.
Despite this, news of a “new take” on Death Note for Netflix involving the Duffer Brothers (Stranger Things) and producers from the 2017 series suggests that capitalism will continue to milk cash cows for all they’re worth, regardless of whether the material truly warrants another adaptation. In short, while Death Note’s popularity and grounded-in-reality premise make it a prime candidate for the live-action adaptation, the question remains as to whether such adaptations are truly necessary. Anime/manga is a valid medium in its own right and does not require validation through live-action adaptation.
Get the latest from Sportslumo.com by following us on Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube
Follow Us
