Dragami Games has announced that a live-action movie based on the cult classic video game Lollipop Chainsaw is in development. This news follows the recent announcement of a new game in the series, Lollipop Chainsaw 2 Back2Back, unveiled at the Tokyo Game Show.
The film is described as an R-rated action comedy and will serve as a prequel to the events of the original game, focusing on the series' protagonist, Juliet Starling. While James Gunn, who contributed to the writing of the original 2012 game, is not expected to be involved due to his current work on the DCU, a creative and production team comprised of international filmmakers and producers is assembling for the project.
Dragami Games expressed enthusiasm for the team, stating they "understand what makes Lollipop Chainsaw special while embracing the opportunity to create something new." No director or major Western film studio has been attached to the movie at this stage.
The original Lollipop Chainsaw was released in 2012 by Grasshopper Manufacture. Despite mixed reviews at the time, it gained a significant cult following and reportedly influenced a scene in James Gunn's film The Suicide Squad. Dragami Games acquired the rights to the franchise in the early 2020s, leading to a remake and now these new multimedia projects.
However, Dragami Games has faced criticism regarding the rough launch state of the remake, its perceived lack of involvement from original creators in new projects, and controversial anti-DEI comments made last year. Nevertheless, the company appears committed to expanding the Lollipop Chainsaw brand, with Lollipop Chainsaw 2 Back2Back, an anime series adaptation, and now this live-action film all in various stages of development.