2016's lyrical, fantastical and romantic anime Your Name was one of the best examples of the medium being used to tell an interesting story for a long time. Which of course means that an American company and filmmakers see it as ripe for a remake. Marc Webb is now developing a take for Paramount and JJ Abrams.
Arrival/Bird Box's Eric Heisserer is on board to adapt the original, written by Makoto Shinkai based on his novel, with an English translation from Clark Cheng. Your Name's story follows a girl named Mitsusha, and a boy named Taki, who start to swap bodies intermittently, eventually yielding an unconventional romance. The story is laced with elements of Japanese mysticism and involves the prevention of an apocalyptic event.
For the US version, the characters will become a young Native American woman and a teen from Chicago who discover the whole body-swapping issue and learn that they must prevent a disaster.
Abrams will produce via his Bad Robot company, with original producers Toho on board and anime producer Genki Kawamura also involved.
Webb has largely worked in TV of late since his last dalliance with high-concept movies ended ignominiously on The Amazing Spider-Man 2. He's directed one film, affecting indie Gifted since then, but this should see him planting a big flag back in cinematic territory, even if adapting a beloved animated film comes with its own risks.
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