‘Hunger Games’-like Japanese film could be adapted into American television series

The CW network is in talks with Hollywood representatives of the 2000 Japanese film Battle Royale that could lead to a new television series.

Plans for an English film version of Battle Royale dating back six years effectively ended when The Hunger Games was released earlier this year, with movie studios not wanting to look like copycats. Now, CW’s preliminary talks means that the film based on Koushun Takami’s novel may be adapted into a television series with hour-long episodes, according to LA Times.

Like The Hunger Games, Battle Royale features a group of high school students who are forced into a game where they survive by killing each other, according to Complex. Both the novel and the film adaptation of Battle Royale predate Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games by several years.

Because of Japanese law, in addition to an agreement between CW and the movie’s representatives, Takami must approve the series.

The CW, whose current line up includes Gossip Girl and The Vampire Diaries, already has a similar show in development called The Selection. However, getting the rights to Battle Royale may alter the network's plans for the future.