'Samurai Champloo' Gets Live-Action Adaptation

Production company Tomorrow Studios (One Piece live-action) announced that they are working on a live-action adaptation of Samurai Champloo with the anime's director, Shinichirou Watanabe, attached to the project on Tuesday. The project is in early development.

The 26-episode original television anime, produced by Manglobe, aired from Spring 2004 to Winter 2005. Geneon Entertainment originally licensed and released the anime in North America before Funimation relicensed it following the expiration of their distribution deal.

A manga adaptation drawn by Masaru Gotsubo ran in Shounen Ace magazine from January to September 2004.

Tokyopop licensed the manga in English and released the two volumes in November 2005 and March 2006, respectively. The company rereleased both volumes into an omnibus edition in August 2008.

Synopsis
Fuu Kasumi is a young and clumsy waitress who spends her days peacefully working in a small teahouse. That is, until she accidentally spills a drink all over one of her customers! With a group of samurai now incessantly harassing her, Fuu desperately calls upon another samurai in the shop, Mugen, who quickly defeats them with his wild fighting technique, utilizing movements reminiscent to that of breakdancing. Unfortunately, Mugen decides to pick a fight with the unwilling ronin Jin, who wields a more precise and traditional style of swordfighting, and the latter proves to be a formidable opponent. The only problem is, they end up destroying the entire shop as well as accidentally killing the local magistrate's son.

For their crime, the two samurai are captured and set to be executed. However, they are rescued by Fuu, who hires the duo as her bodyguards. Though she no longer has a place to return to, the former waitress wishes to find a certain samurai who smells of sunflowers and enlists the help of the now exonerated pair to do so. Despite initially disapproving of this idea, the two eventually agree to assist the girl in her quest; thus, the trio embark upon an adventure to find this mysterious warrior—that is, if Fuu can keep Mugen and Jin from killing each other.

Set in an alternate Edo Period of Japan, Samurai Champloo follows the journey of these three eccentric individuals in an epic quest full of action, comedy, and dynamic sword fighting, all set to the beat of a unique hip-hop infused soundtrack. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Source: Variety