[Azuma_Ninja]

Akira

Diretor Stphen Norrington(Blade, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen) is rportedly helming Warner Bros. rendition of this grim sci-fi tale, which is being adapted by League screenwriter James Robinson. We're hoping that modern digital effects will do justice to Akira's stunning, futuristic neo-Tokyo landscapes and eye-popping, metatmorphic climax. A possible early-2004 release is pending

Dragon Ball Z

One of the hottest anime properties ever, it seems only appropriate that DBZ is preparing to go live. Fox 2000 Pictures supposedly has this flick scheduled for release in the next year, with a rumored budge of $100 million. If all goes well, a full-on franchise could be in the works. Fox will reportedly collaborate on other properties in the library of DBZ's publisher, Shueisha, as part of a licensing deal between the two companies

Kite

Through the Distant Horizon company, director Rob Cohen(XXX, The Fast and the Furious) will remake Yasuomi Umetsu's anime shocker, excising two controversial rape scenes. Kite is the unsettling tale of a young woman who, following the murder of her parents, is trained to assassinate people for a vengeful detective-shades of La Femme Nikita, for sure.

Lupin The 3rd

Oscar-winning producer Gerald R. Molen(Schindler's List, Minority Report) has acquired the live-action film rights to the famous Monkey Punch manga Lupin the 3rd. This tale of a wily but gentlmanly thief, who is forever pursued by bumbling Interpol Inspector Zenigata, has inspired a long-running anime series, eight animated features, and 13 television series in Japan.

Ninja Scroll

Considering the arty matial-arts craze propagated by the smash hit Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, the dazzling Ninja Scroll seems only natural for a big-screen translation. Threshold Entertainment anticipates a $60 million, effects-heavy production, with licensing plans to numerous media including television, video games, and music. Threshold already cashed in with Mortal Kombat; can it work the same magic with this title

All this info came for Request mag's July/August 2003 issue. I personally like the sound of a Ninja Scroll videogame.