Columbia Pictures has optioned the rights to make two movies based on the Japanese hit "Big Man Japan," the studio announced Monday.
Neal H. Moritz (below) will develop and produce a remake of the movie through his Original Film. Columbia also optioned the rights to a sequel.
Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi will write the adaptation.
The 2007 movie was a major hit in Japan and a cult his in the United States. It's about the one human who can protect humanity from monsters: Big Man Japan. The Big Man is in charge of the Department of Monster Protection.
Although Big Man Japan can grow to 10 stories tall and battle some pretty nasty monsters, he's clumsy, often causing as much damage as he prevents. He's a third-generation monster-fighter, and the people believe his father and grandfather were much better at the job than he is.
Moritz knows how to make big movies. He did this year's hit "Fast Five," for Universal, "Battle: Los Angeles," "The Green Hornet" and "I Am Legend," among others. He's now working on "Jack the Giant Killer" for Warner Bros.
In March, Columbia announced that it had extended Moritz's deal to 2015.
Toby Jaffe will oversee development for Original.
