Comedy-vampire action thriller Yakuza Apocalypse, which premiered in the Directors’ Fortnight sidebar at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, has been picked up for North American distribution rights by Samuel Goldwyn Films. Takashi Miike (13 Assassins, Ichi The Killer) directed from a screenplay by Yoshitaka Yamaguchi.
Japanese actor Hayato Ichihara plays Kagayama, a lieutenant with vampire powers inherited from his Yakuza boss, Kamiura, who is killed in a battle with a competing gang. Kagayama’s first order of business is to avenge his boss’s death, as he assumes the role of new Yakuza boss.
Yakuza Apocalypse will make its North American premiere next month at the Toronto Film Festival as part of the Midnight Madness sidebar. Samuel Goldwyn is scheduling a theatrical release on October 9, 2015.