Japanese Horror Manga ‘Noah Of The Blood Sea’ Set For Feature Adaptation As Tyrus Pictures Options Rights

EXCLUSIVE: In a sign of the growing global interest in Japanese IP, L.A.-based Tyrus Pictures is developing a feature film adaptation of horror manga Noah Of The Blood Sea (Kekkai no Noah).

The L.A.-based production company has optioned the film adaptation rights from major Japanese publisher Takeshobo and is targeting a 2027 production start. Michael Zelman and Hamid Mokhneche will produce for Tyrus Pictures.

Created by Yu Satomi, the five-volume manga follows a group of passengers embarking on what promises to be an idyllic journey aboard a luxury cruise ship. But when passengers begin mysteriously disappearing, the voyage descends into a terrifying fight for survival.

Blending supernatural horror, psychological suspense and survival thriller elements, Noah of the Blood Sea has reached international audiences through translated editions in Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Brazil, South Korea and Thailand, building a readership across Europe, Latin America and Asia.

A Taiwanese edition is currently in development. An English-language edition is also planned for release in North America.

“What immediately drew me to Noah of the Blood Sea was its extraordinary cinematic potential,” said Mokhneche.

“The combination of a luxury cruise ship, an unnerving atmosphere and a distinctive supernatural mythology creates the foundation for a compelling horror film. We’re excited to work with Takeshobo to bring Yu Satomi’s vision to the screen while staying true to what makes the original manga so distinctive.”

The deal comes at a buzzy time for Japanese IP on the world stage, thanks to global hits such Godzilla Minus One and the One Piece franchise, amid a concerted push by the country through initiatives like the Japan IP Market in Cannes.

Tokyo-based independent publishing house Takeshobo was founded in 1972. Its portfolio spans manga, books and magazines, and includes Made in Abyss, the internationally successful manga series translated into 22 languages and adapted into a popular anime franchise.

“Both Yu Satomi and I are excited to see how the distinctive visual style and unique world of Noah of the Blood Sea will translate from the pages of the manga to the big screen,” said Atsushi Kimura, Deputy General Manager at Takeshobo.

“From our earliest conversations with Hamid, we were impressed by his understanding of the original work and his commitment to preserving what makes it unique,” said Shin Ogasawara, Deputy Corporate Officer at Takeshobo. “We look forward to working with Tyrus Pictures to bring this story to the screen.”

The deal was negotiated by Mokhneche on behalf of Tyrus Pictures, and Atsushi Kimura and Shin Ogasawara on behalf of Takeshobo.

“We’ve long wanted to develop a project rooted in Japanese horror, and Noah of the Blood Sea represents exactly the kind of distinctive storytelling we’ve been looking for,” said Zelman.

The adaptation marks a further expansion of Tyrus Pictures’ international development slate as the company continues to identify and develop distinctive intellectual property from around the world.

Former WME and LD Entertainment exec Zelman and Mokhneche launched Tyrus Pictures last year with the aim of producing one to to produce one to two feature films per year, with budgets ranging from $5 million to $50 million.