Idris Elba and wife Sabrina Sign Deal with Anime Studio Crunchyroll to Produce Futuristic Sci-Fi Series
Idris and Sabrina Elba are entering the world of anime!
The Elbas have signed a deal with Crunchyroll to develop an anime series through Idris’s Green Door Pictures and Sabrina’s Pink Towel Pictures. According to Variety, Idris and Sabrina Elba are set to executive produce their first anime title. The working name of the animated fantasy series is Dantai, which is an Afro-futuristic sci-fi series that takes place in a city where there is an “ever-widening” gap between the haves and have-nots due to the rise of biotechnology.
“We’re really excited to be announcing this deal on our first anime. We’re both fans of the genre and see a huge opportunity to create something unique for a powerhouse like Crunchyroll. The story of ‘Dantai’ is our first collaboration as producers together and is one that is close to our hearts,” the Elbas said in a written statement.
Deadline reports that Joanne Waage, currently GM of Crunchyroll said, “For more than a decade, through anime and anime-inspired originals, Crunchyroll has been leading the charge for the popularization of adult dramatic animation and we are fast becoming the epicenter for the next generation of animation fans, as is evidenced by our incredible growth in registered users and subscribers.
“Gens Y and Z have experienced superhero fatigue and are hungry for the new stories and ideas that our creators tell. This development deal with Sabrina and Idris Elba is another example of how we’re working with best-in-class partners to bring in new audiences and tell fresh and compelling stories through a medium that transcends genres and generations.”
Crunchyroll is in the process of being sold to Sony’s Funimation in a $1.2 billion deal.
This will be Idris and Sabrina Elba’s first time working on the same project with their respective companies.