DEATH NOTE: L, change the WorLd U.S. Theatrical Event!

: 06 March 2009

VIZ Pictures and NCM Present a Special 2-Night Event for Latest Live-Action DEATH NOTE Film Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Official Movie Site: Death Note Films Special Thanks to Rieko Fuji, Evelyn Dubocq, and Erik Jansen Riveting Unwritten Chapter Of Edgy DEATH NOTE Psychological Crime Drama on the Big Screen on April 29th and 30th in More Than 400 Theatres Nationwide

VIZ Pictures, an affiliate of VIZ Media, LLC that focuses on Japanese live-action film distribution, has announced that it will team with NCM Fathom to present DEATH NOTE: L, change the WorLd, a live-action two-night, multi-city event on April 29th and 30th at 7:30 pm local time. By popular demand, a subtitled version will be presented on April 29th and an English-dubbed version on April 30th with L’s voice played by Alessandro Juliani from the anime series. Tickets for this special event are available at presenting theatre box offices and online. For a complete list of theatre locations and prices, please visit FathomEvents.com (theatres are subject to change). Advance tickets will be available to Shonen Jump e-subscribers beginning March 20 (sign-up is available at shonenjump.com) and tickets to the general public go on sale on March 23. DEATH NOTE: L, change the WorLd is inspired by the immensely popular DEATH NOTE features, which are based on the best-selling supernatural action manga series written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata, but this spin-off follows a new original storyline. DEATH NOTE: L, change the WorLd was directed by Hideo Nakata, who also directed the U.S. #1 hit horror movie THE RING TWO (2005), which was remade from his own smash hit Japanese horror trilogy, RING (Ringu, 1998).

L, change the WorLd introduces new villains; the bio-terrorist Daisuke Matoba (Masanobu Takashima) and the homicidal Hatsune Misawa (Megumi Sato). Photo courtesy of NTV. © 2008 L Film Partners. © 2008 L Plot Produce

DEATH NOTE: L, change the WorLd introduces the unwritten chapter of DEATH NOTE and reveals how the legendary detective “L” (Kenichi Matsuyama) spends the final 23 days of his life. The story begins as L takes on the “Kira” case, in which countless criminals are dying under mysterious circumstances. L successfully solves the case and stops Kira, but only after sacrificing his life, leaving himself with only 23 days left to live. For his final case L faces down a bio-terrorist group trying to wipe out humanity with a deadly virus ten times more potent than Ebola. As L tries to formulate an antidote with a scientist, he must also save the lives of two children who have no one else to turn to. DEATH NOTE: L, change the WorLd features what happened before and after the two earlier DEATH NOTE events and shows DEATH NOTE fans the more human side of L that could not be seen previously. “Fathom’s ongoing relationship with VIZ Pictures has brought the best in live-action manga events to Fathom-networked theatres and will bring the anxiously awaited third event in the Death Note series to select theatres in April,” said Dan Diamond, vice president of Fathom. “DEATH NOTE: L, change the WorLd stars Kenichi Matsuyama, an up-and-coming Japanese actor who has also appeared in acclaimed films such as DEATH NOTE, LINDA LINDA LINDA, NANA and DETROIT METAL CITY,” says Seiji Horibuchi, president and CEO of VIZ Pictures. “He reprises his role as the ace detective L and audiences will be riveted to their seats as his character once again works to save society from a monstrous new threat.”

The DEATH NOTE manga and animated series have become extremely popular domestically. The 37-episode animated series is seen by millions each week on cable broadcast and the series is also distributed on DVD by VIZ Media (rated T+ for Older Teens). On the print side, Death Note 13: How to Read, a companion volume to the successful manga series, is also published domestically by VIZ Media and was ranked in USA Today`s Top 150 list of America`s best-selling books. For more information on the DEATH NOTE live action events and other VIZ Pictures films please visit viz-pictures.com or deathnotefilms.com. For more information on the DEATH NOTE manga and animation, please visit deathnote.viz.com. About National CineMedia National CineMedia (NCM) LLC operates the largest digital in-theatre network in North America through long-term agreements with its founding members, AMC Entertainment Inc., Cinemark Holdings, Inc. and Regal Entertainment Group, the three largest theatre operators in the U.S., and through multi-year agreements with several other theatre operators. NCM LLC produces and distributes its FirstLook pre feature program; cinema and lobby advertising products; comprehensive meeting and event services and other entertainment programming content.

NCM LLC`s national network includes over 17,000 screens of which approximately 14,700 are part of the company`s Digital Content Network (DCN). NCM LLC`s network covers 176 Designated Market Areas (49 of the top 50). During 2007, approximately 685 million patrons attended movies shown in theatres currently included in the network (excluding Consolidated Theatres and Star Theatres). National CineMedia, Inc. owns a 42.3% interest in and is the managing member of NCM LLC. For additional information, visit nationalcinemedia.com. About VIZ Pictures, Inc. Based in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Pictures, Inc. distributes Japanese live-action films and DVDs, with particular focus on Japanese "kawaii (cute) and cool" pop culture. VIZ Pictures approaches each release from a J-pop fan`s point of view to serve manga and anime generation in North America. VIZ Pictures titles include DEATH NOTE, KAMIKAZE GIRLS, LINDA LINDA LINDA, PING PONG, THE TASTE OF TEA, TRAIN MAN: DENSHA OTOKO and others. The company will continue to offer the hottest visual entertainment straight from the "Kingdom of Pop" for audiences of all ages in North America. VIZ Pictures, Inc. is an affiliate of VIZ Media, LLC, the San Francisco-based leading U.S. publisher of Japanese manga and merchandise licensor of Japanese animation such as the popular NARUTO animated TV series. For more information please visit viz-pictures.com. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For more information on the DEATH NOTE series please see the earlier coverage here on SciFi Japan: