Movie Adaptation of Classic Manga Series Death Note Heading to Netflix - Report

The live-action film adaptation of the hugely popular manga and anime series Death Note is apparently on the move. It has been reported that the film is on the verge of shifting production from its current home at Warner to Netflix.

According to The Wrap, the streaming giant is in negotiations to pick up the project. The site's sources claim that the movie was nearing the start of filming when Warner decided not to move ahead. However, instead of simply dropping it, Warner agreed to let director Adam Wingard take the project elsewhere. It is reported that Netflix have offered a firm commitment to make the film, and it is expected that the deal will go through.

This follows the news earlier this week that Warner is planning to make fewer films that don't tie into its three big franchise properties, namely DC, Lego, and Harry Potter.

In October last year, it was reported that Nat Wolff, best known for the hit teen drama The Fault in our Stars, had been cast as the lead in Death Note. It is also suggested that Straight Outta Compton's Keith Stanfield may join him.

The series tells the story of a high school student called Light, who comes into possession of a supernatural notebook that allows him to kill anyone whose name he writes into it. Light sets out to rid the world of evil, but finds himself relentlessly pursued by a legendary police detective.

Death Note ran for 108 issues between 2003 and 2006, which were subsequently collected into 12 graphic novels, which to date have sold more than 30 million copies worldwide. There have also been three live-action Japanese films, an anime series, and a number of video games for the Nintendo DS, published by Konami.