Sabrina and Idris Elba Team With Crunchyroll For “Dantai” Now In Development

Crunchyroll  is announcing a deal today with Idris and Sabrina Elba, in conjunction with Idris’ Green Door Pictures and Sabrina’s Pink Towel Pictures, to develop “Dantai” (working title), a dark fantasy animated series for Crunchyroll’s global anime audience of more than 100 million registered users. Idris and Sabrina Elba will serve as executive producers.

Currently in development, the Afro-futuristic science fiction series will be set in a city where the rise of biotechnology has created an ever-widening gap between the haves and have-nots. Two rising stars from either side of this divide are pitted against each other in a story that will ultimately explore equality and kinship within a corrupt society.

“We’re thrilled to be collaborating with Idris and Sabrina to develop this anime-inspired sci-fi epic,” said Sarah Victor, Head of Development, Crunchyroll. “It is a privilege to work with such talented, creative partners and we look forward to bringing this exciting project to life.”

The Elbas said; “We’re really excited to be announcing this deal on our first anime. 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.”

Our Take

Crunchyroll has also announced that they have surpassed 4 million subscribers, but it will be interesting to see how Sony starts to blur the lines between the competitors that are Funimation and Crunchyroll. With the anime streamer betting heavily on originals, this could be a great way to continue to shepherd this.