Culture 2 min read By Morgan Griffin
Goodfellas shares first images from Toho's sci-fi thriller Leviathan
Goodfellas has released first images from Leviathan, Toho's live-action sci-fi thriller based on Shiro Kuroi's bestselling manga, as it kicks off sales ahead of the American Film Market.
Goodfellas has released first images from Leviathan, the highly anticipated sci-fi thriller from Toho, as it launches international sales ahead of the American Film Market. The company is using the images to draw buyers and industry attention to the project before the market gets underway.
Leviathan is a live-action adaptation of Shiro Kuroi's best-selling manga. The story is set in 2127 and follows a group of students who are pitted against one another in a brutal battle for survival in the depths of space. The premise places the film in the survival-thriller tradition, with its drama built around a confined group forced into violent competition.
The first images arrive as sales activity builds around the project in the weeks leading up to the market, an event where distributors and buyers look for titles to acquire for territories around the world. Goodfellas' decision to show visuals at this stage signals an effort to build interest among international buyers before the market opens.
Toho has a long history in genre filmmaking, and a move into a sci-fi thriller based on a popular manga reflects a continuing interest in adapting Japanese source material for global audiences. Kuroi's manga already has a substantial readership, giving the adaptation an existing fan base as it seeks to reach markets abroad.
The release also gives the market its first visual look at a film that has so far been defined mainly by its premise and source material. The images offer buyers a clearer sense of the film's tone and production design, which often weigh heavily in acquisition decisions at this stage of the sales cycle. Goodfellas has not used the release to announce a distribution deal, leaving the film's international sales path open as the market approaches.
Source: deadline.com
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