Warner Bros. to Adapt Manga Bleach

Warner Bros. Pictures has acquired the live-action rights to develop an adaptation of Tite Kubo's manga series Bleach. Peter Segal, who most recently directed Get Smart, will produce and potentially direct while Dan Mazeau (Wrath of the Titans) is attached to write the screenplay.

Bleach follows the adventures of Ichigo, a teenager with the ability to see ghosts. When his family is attacked by a Hollow, a malevolent lost soul, Ichigo encounters Rukia, a Soul Reaper tasked to hunting Hollows, and inadvertently absorbs her powers. Now Ichigo dedicates his life to protecting the innocent and helping tortured souls find peace.

The film will also be produced by Michael Ewing, Masi Oka, Jason Hoffs and Branon Coluccio.

Bleach has previously been adapted in animated form for the small screen in a continuing anime series and, for the big screen, in a series of tie-in films. The most recent, Bleach: Hell Chapter, was released in Japan in December of 2010.