Tokyopop has acquired worldwide film rights to Lament of the Lambs, (which it has published in the U.S.) and plans to make Kei Toume's horror manga its first foray into independent film production.  Tokyopop's project, which is currently in the developmental phase, earned an 'In the Spotlight' position at this year's 19th Annual Tokyo International Film Festival.

 

Lament of the Lamb is a vampire saga with a realistic twist that turns it into pure psychological horror.  It follows the physical and mental torment of a man who discovers that he is cursed with a hereditary disease that makes him crave blood, and uses his affliction as a metaphor for teenage alienation, twisted sexual desire, and insanity.

 

Tokyopop plans to make Lament of the Lambs a truly international production.  As Tokyopop's CEO & Chief Creative Officer Stu Levy explained, 'We'll script the story in Hollywood, attach a Japanese director, cast in the West, and shoot in Eastern Europe.'