Through Lens Entertainment, East-West, the film studio that made a splash at Cannes last year, has entered into a film development and production agreement with the popular horror magazine Fangoria. For Fangoria, the deal marks a return to filmmaking after a long period of corporate turmoil.
The duo said their deal “will redefine the horror and manga experience, offering fans an immersive journey into the world of horror through theatrical film.” They also said it promises “creativity, culturally relevant new manga films, and accurate manga adaptations.”
The first three manga titles to be co-developed as films are all from legendary Japanese manga author or horror artist Ito Junji: “Bloodsucking Darkness,” “The Mystery of the Haunted House Part 1” and “Part 2.”
Armen Ajayan, Tara Ansley and Abhi Goel will produce the films for Fangoria Studios, alongside Ito, along with Kotami Yasuo and Yamaguchi Tsubasa of Amuse Group USA and Aditya Chand and Jay Van Hoy of Through the Lens Entertainment. The deal between Fangoria and Through the Lens Entertainment was brokered by independent producer Carlos Aguirre, who will serve as executive producer on the films.
Founded in 1979, Fangoria gained a cult following in the pre-internet era for its behind-the-scenes photos and in-depth interviews with horror filmmakers. It also hosted its own awards shows, sponsored conventions, and since 1990 expanded into film production and distribution. However, in the 2000s, publication became erratic until new owners took over the title in 2018 and again in 2020.
Current owners Ansley and Joel run the magazine as a glossy quarterly edited by Phil Nobile Jr., and have plans to become a multi-media operation. The company’s Fangoria Studios unit launched in 2021 to develop and produce films, television and podcasts using the Fangoria, Starlog and Gorezone brands.
“It’s important to recognize the universal appeal of horror stories, and what better way to start our partnership with Through the Lens Entertainment than with the stories of legendary horror author and artist Ito,” said Armen Ajayan, Senior Vice President, Fangoria Studios. “After all, everyone screams the same language.”
“Working with a visionary manga creator like [Ito] “Junji, coupled with a horror culture platform like Fangoria, pushes the boundaries of what East-West collaboration can achieve in the modern era,” said Through the Lens Entertainment founder Aditya Chand. “The manga must be adapted in a culturally sensitive way, balancing Japanese nuances with innovative horror sensibilities, allowing for a new cinematic experience for manga fans and enthusiasts.”
The new deal also sees filmmaker Fan Hui (American Honey, The Lighthouse, The Witch) join Through the Lens Entertainment as chief production officer. He is expected to create a new pool of talent behind the camera and establish a new way of thinking and a modern ecosystem for film production.
In partnership with Shogakukan Asia, the Southeast Asian subsidiary of Japanese Pokémon book publisher Shogakukan, Through the Lens Entertainment recently launched Hoshi Studios as a manga development and publishing startup with branches in Singapore and Japan.
Through the Lens, he is an associate producer on “Eephus,” Carson Lund’s comedy-drama that debuted in May in the Directors’ Fortnight section of the Cannes Film Festival.
Other projects include “The Incident Report,” with Brett Lore (“Severance”) directed by Naomi Jay and executive produced by Charlie Kaufman; “Lefthanded Girl,” a Taiwanese feature film written and directed by Shih-Ching Shu (“Tangerine”) and produced by Sean Baker (“The Florida Project”), now in post-production; and “Skysong,” a South Asian fantasy story being developed as a picture book and feature film with Freida Pinto (“Slumdog Millionaire”) and her Freebird Films company.
