James Gunn revving up Lollipop Chainsaw

Suda-51 has worked with some of the biggest names in gaming, counting Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami, Metal Gear Solid director Hideo Kojima, and Silent Hill director/composer Akira Yamaoka among his collaborators. Now he's stretching out into other media, as Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment today announced that writer/director James Gunn (Slither, Super) has signed on "to bring his cult humor and edgy storytelling" to Suda-51 and Yamaoka's latest project, Lollipop Chainsaw.

In a post on his official website, James Gunn detailed his participation in the game and revealed an extra detail or two.

"I was involved with crafting the story, and helping to create the characters, and writing the dialogue," Gunn said. "This was not only stuff that affects the English translation of the game, but the heart of the game itself, so yes, the Japanese version has my imprint on it as well. I also worked with the American actors and voice artists to create the characters."

In addition, Gunn said some of the actors he used in his other projects will be playing roles in the game. While he didn't name names, Gunn has worked with a number of notable stars on multiple occasions, including Nathan Fillion, Michael Rooker, and Rob Zombie.

In addition to the news about Gunn, WBIE confirmed that it is working with the title's Japanese publisher, Kadokawa Games, to publish the game outside of Asia. The game should debut internationally in 2012.

Lollipop Chainsaw lets players assume the role of the chainsaw-wielding cheerleader Juliet Starling. When her high school is overrun with zombies, Juliet's family history of zombie hunting comes in handy. Combining her cheerleading acrobatics and a deft hand with the chainsaw, Juliet takes the fight to the zombie hordes, attempting to discover the root of the outbreak, but she soon finds her task complicated by "zombie rock lords" intent on taking her down.

For more on Suda-51 and Akira Yamaoka's previous game, check out GameSpot's review of Shadows of the Damned.