Carlos López Estradahas become one of the most prolific directors of the last five years, and he is now attached to directYour Name,a live-action remake of the classic 2016 Japanese anime film of the same name.
According to an exclusive report fromVariety, López Estrada has also been tapped to write the script in addition to directing.Your Namewill be based on the anime directed by Japanese mainstayMakoto Shinkai.The original film follows two high-school aged Japanese protagonists, a boy and a girl, who suddenly find themselves switching bodies for an unclear reason. The film follows the pair as they try to unravel the mysteries behind what is causing theirFreaky Friday-esque problem, all while trying to save themselves from an impending disaster that threatens to upend the lives of their loved ones.Your Namebecame an instant hit in Japan upon its release, grossing over $230 million across the country and becoming an instant anime classic. Variety reported that López Estrada’s remake, while having a similar plot to the original, will be a “re-imagined” version.
Beyond López Estrada, the upcoming film has significant weight behind it.Your Nameis being produced by Paramount Pictures, which will also handle the film’s American distribution. The film will beproduced by acclaimed directorJ.J. Abrams(Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker)through his production label Bad Robot. Additional producers on the film includeHannah Minghella, Jon CohenandGenki Kawamura, the latter of whom also produced the original.
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The production company on the original film, Japanese studio Toho, will also have a role in the remake, as the label will handle the project’s Japanese distribution. The remake was initially in development with screenwriterEric Heisserer(Arrival, Bird Box).Heisserer would later exit the project, but it is unclear if he will retain writing credits on the film along with López Estrada. The film is now also on its third director, as bothMarc WebbandLee Isaac Chungwere previously attached to helm the project, though they would both subsequently exit.
Your Namewill be just the latest in a line notable projects for López Estrada. The native of Mexico City made an immediate splash in Hollywood with his feature directorial debut, 2018’sBlindspotting.The film, which starredDaveed DiggsandRafael Casal,recieved widespread critical acclaim andspawned a spinoff television seriesof the same name. López Estrada’s next film, the comedy-dramaSummertime,received similar accolades at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. He is most well known, though, for co-directing the Walt Disney Studios animated featureRaya and the Last DragonalongsideDon Hall. The film, which featured an ensemble voice cast ofKelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina, Gemma Chan, Benedict Wong,andSandra Ohbecameone of the biggest successes of 2021, becoming the third-most streamed film that year. It would go on to gross more than $130 million at the worldwide box office.
López Estrada also has another high-profile film in the works, as he is slated to develop the live-action version of the classic Disney animated filmRobin Hood.No release window or cast for the project has been announced for the upcoming live-action remake below:
