Chloé Zhao launches Manga production company

Posted On November 4, 2025November 4, 2025

Chloé Zhao, the director behind Hamnet and Eternals, has launched her own production company to honour the work of Manga. 

The company, named Kodansha Studios, will use the library of work from the leading Japanese Manga publisher Kodansha to create a body of live-action movies and television series based on the literary genre.

Using famous Manga titles including Attack on Titans and Akira to produce films and TV shows spanning everything from comedy, romance, and horror, Zhao will serve as the company’s Chief Creative Officer, while her production partner Nicolas Gonda will serve as its Chief Operations Officer.

The pair already have another production company together, Book of Shadows, which was founded in 2022, but this will continue separately. 

Speaking of her love of Manga and desire to connect these stories with the rest of the world, Zhao said in a statement (via Deadline): “I grew up reading and drawing Manga. I love being a part of the fandoms and I feel a deep sense of belonging with people around the world who share their love for these characters and stories. Kodansha has an unparalleled library of manga and novels cultivated by master storytellers just waiting to be brought to life onscreen.”

She added: “By connecting these brilliant authors with their filmmaker counterparts internationally, we can empower both parties while driving a wave of exceptional storytelling for audiences all over the world.”

The move marks a new venture for Zhao, who has made a name as one of Hollywood’s most prolific and well-known filmmakers. She became one of only three women in history to win the award for ‘Best Director’ at the Oscars for her 2021 film Nomadland, starring Frances McDormand.

More recently, Zhao is shortly set to make her return to the directorial big leagues for the first time since Eternals in 2021. Her movie adaptation of the novel Hamnet, starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal, is gathering critical buzz and is set to be released on November 27th, 2025, in the US, and on January 9th, 2026, in the UK.

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