Masi Oka To Star In Netflix's Death Note

If you’re a fan of Death Note, then you have surely heard about Netflix’s upcoming adaptation [...]

If you're a fan of Death Note, then you have surely heard about Netflix's upcoming adaptation of the series. The popular streaming site will debut Adam Wingard's version of Death Note next year, and fans have been eagerly waiting for updates on the series. The film, which is already in production, will see Nat Wolff star as Light Turner (Yagami) while Keith Stanfield plays L. The Western cast of Death Note has made some fans uncomfortable, especially in light of recent whitewashing controversies surrounding projects like Ghost in the Shell.

However, there will be at least one Japanese actor in the film. Producer Masi Oka (Heroes) has confirmed he also has an on-screen role for Death Note, and fans are happy to hear so.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Oka talked about his work on Death Note. "I'm very fortunate to be able to do things also behind-the-scenes, creating some TV shows and also producing a lot of movies," he said. "I recently finished producing Death Note for Netflix, which I have a part in as well."

So far, there's no word on who Oka will be playing. Most fans are inclined to believe that the actor will play Touta Matsuda. The character is a younger member of the Japanese Task Force, and fans know him for his awkward social skills. Matsuda works hard to overcome his rookie status and have his colleagues respect him, but things become difficult when he's asked to help find the killer Akira.

With Oka joining the on-screen cast, the actor will be joined by plenty of other all-star talent. Aside from Wolff and Stanfield, Margaret Qualley will play Mia Sutton, Paul Nakauchi will play Watari, and Shea Whigham will play James Turner. Willem Dafoe has also been cast in Death Note as Ryuk, the iconic Shinigami from the anime.

When Death Note debuts next year, fans should expect to see a dark, gritty take on the series. The series, which is already known for its dark themes, will get a R-rated iteration under Wingard's guidance. The director spoke to Collider about his mature vision for Death Note, and he said the project could do whatever it wanted.

"We can do whatever we want," he started. "So, doing my first live-action anime thing, to me it was important that you have those adult themes. So, it's got nudity, it's got swearing, it's got a ton of violence."

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Adam talked about his own past with anime and said that the genre's unflinching association with adult-oriented content inspired him.

"The thing about anime is that it's so adult-oriented," he explained. "I remember going to Suncoast growing up and you see Akira there with the little 'Not for Kids' sticker on it. That always made an impact on me."

Death Note began filming in June and is slated to release in 2017.

[H/T] Anime News Network

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