Two-time Oscar winner Chloé Zhao and producer Nicolas Gonda have partnered with Kodansha to launch Kodansha Studios, a new global production company focused on bringing manga to life as live-action films and television series.
The studio will leverage Kodansha’s extensive manga library—home to iconic titles like Akira, Attack on Titan, Tokyo Revengers, Blue Lock, The Seven Deadly Sins, and That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime—to create adaptations spanning romance, drama, horror, fantasy, and blockbuster action. Kodansha aims to connect international filmmakers with Japanese authors, providing a direct pathway for premium adaptations while fostering creative collaboration.
Zhao, who will serve as Chief Creative Officer, said, “I grew up reading and drawing manga. Kodansha has an unparalleled library of stories just waiting to be brought to life onscreen. By connecting these brilliant authors with their filmmaker counterparts internationally, we can empower both parties while delivering exceptional storytelling to audiences worldwide.”
Gonda will serve as President and COO, continuing his work from his production company Book of Shadows. Gonda has a history of producing innovative projects and immersive experiences, including his role as founding Chief Content Officer at Meow Wolf and producing films like Hamnet and Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life.
Founded in 1909, Kodansha publishes over 4,000 titles across 40+ countries. With half a billion copies sold collectively among its top manga series, the publisher is now aiming to expand its reach into live-action, building bridges between Japanese creators and Hollywood storytellers.
Kodansha Studios represents a major step in global manga adaptation, positioning Zhao and Gonda to bring some of the world’s most beloved stories to new audiences while retaining the essence of the original works.
Source: Deadline
