It’s rare to find a film adaptation that has captured the attention of fans as much as Death Note, especially the American version. Initially announced in 2011, the project was under the direction of Shane Black, with the film still being finalized at Warner Bros. Pictures.
Later, the rights to this iconic manga series were transferred to Netflix, with Adam Wingard set to direct. However, despite the changes made in the adaptation, the American version of Death Note faced significant backlash from fans for its deviations from the source material. These changes ranged from altering Kira’s character to casting a white actor as the lead detective, L, which sparked considerable controversy among fans.
Nevertheless, in the end, the cast for the American Death Note adaptation received a significant boost when director Adam Wingard decided to cast Willem Dafoe in the project.
Willem Dafoe to voice the character in Death Note
If you are a fan of superhero films, you might be familiar with Willem Dafoe, the actor famous for his portrayal of the Green Goblin in Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man series. In this American adaptation of Death Note, Willem Dafoe will lend his voice to the Shinigami Ryuk.
This decision by the Death Note production team has been warmly received by fans, as many believe that Willem Dafoe’s unique voice is perfect for such a supernatural and dark character. Therefore, having him voice the character of Ryuk is indeed a fitting choice.
The American adaptation of Death Note is expected to be completed and released on Netflix in 2017.
