Idris and Sabrina Elba are set to executive produce a new animated series for Crunchyroll, the global anime-streaming service that will soon be sold to Sony’s Funimation group, according to Variety.
The working title “Dantai” is the couple’s first anime title set to be produced through Sabrina’s Pink Towel Pictures and her husband’s Green Door Pictures.
“Dantai” is an Afro-futuristic sci-fi series set in a city where an ever-widening gap between the haves and the have-nots is the result of a rise in biotechnology, Crunchyroll said.
“We’re really excited to be announcing this deal on our first anime,” said the Elbas in a statement. “We’re both fans of the genre and see a huge opportunity to create something unique for a powerhouse like Crunchyroll. The story of ‘Dantai’ is our first collaboration as producers together and is one that is close to our hearts.”
Meanwhile, the Sony group agreed to acquire Crunchyroll from AT&T’s WarnerMedia for $1.2 billion. In addition to the news on the new collaboration with the Elbas, the streaming service has now topped four million paid subscribers as of last month (January 2021) just on the heels of reaching the three million-subscriber mark back in July 2020.
Crunchyroll GM Joanne Waage says there is a need for new stories like “Dantai,” that younger generations are seeking because of “superhero fatigue,” Variety reports.
“This development deal with Sabrina and Idris Elba is another example of how we’re working with best-in-class partners to bring in new audiences and tell fresh and compelling stories through a medium that transcends genres and generations,” Waage said.
