The US and Dominican Republic-based entertainment company announced at Comic-Con it is moving into production, teaming up with Japan’s Gonzo Studios on a live-action project close to the actor’s heart.

Indomina Group vice-chairman and CEO Jasbinder Singh Mann will produce with Gonzo Studios’ Shin Ishikawa and Jackson, who voiced the lead character in a 2007 five-part anime television series and a made-for TV movie that came out two years later.

The producers are out to writers and directors with the goal of locking cast by the end of the year in time for a 2012 shoot at Pinewood Indomina Studios in the Dominican Republic.  Eli Selden of Anonymous Content serves as executive producer.

Writer-animator Takashi Okazaki’s story about a man who seeks to avenge his father’s death originally appeared as a serialised manga in the magazine Nou Nou Hau from September 1999 to May 2000.

Gonzo turned it into the five-part anime television series in 2007 before creating the made-for-TV movie sequel, Afro Samurai: Resurrection. Okazaki subsequently remade the original manga books as a two-volume edition.

“This has been one of my very favourite properties ever since our amazing debut at Comic Con with the original series pilot out of Japan,” Jackson said. “I can’t wait to produce the epic feature film version with our new partners at The Indomina Group.”

“When Indomina was launched, Afro Samurai was quickly identified as the perfect property for us to option and exploit through our vertical channels targeted to a fanboy audience,” Singh Mann said. “We never took our eyes off the property and are very pleased to not only have the opportunity now to make an extraordinary film, but to do it with Samuel L Jackson, who is just as passionate about Afro Samurai as we are.

“This is a perfect collaboration in the eyes of Indomina. We look forward to going to work with Sam and Gonzo on this and making something discernibly unique.”

Stacey Smart Stanley is overseeing development for Indomina and Chris Carlisle will take point for Gonzo.

Indomina recently released Yuen Woo Ping’s martial arts feature True Legend. The next release is the rom-com Griff The Invisible starring Ryan Kwanten on Aug 19.

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