Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group (SPWAG) has picked up all North American rights to East Wing Holdings Corp and SAJ’s Blood: The Last Vampire.

Samuel Goldwyn Films will handle the US theatrical release this summer of Chris Nahon’s film, an English-language live-action version of the original Japanese anime film.

Gianna (My Sassy Girl, Daisy) stars in the film as a 400-year-old demon-hunter working for a secret Japanese organisation during the Vietnam War era. Chris Chow wrote the screenplay.

The cast includes Koyuki, Michael Byrne, Colin Salmon and Allison Miller. Bill Kong and Abel Nahmias produced and stunt master Cory Yuen choreographed the action.

SPWAG’s vice-president of acquisitions and productions Scott Shooman negotiated the deal with East Wing’s Kong.

“We had a great collaboration with Sony Pictures in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and we feel so excited to work with them again,” Kong said. “Blood: The Last Vampire is action-packed and powerful, and we can’t wait to show this movie to audiences over the world.”

“We are thrilled to extend our long-standing relationship with producer Bill Kong and our partners at Samuel Goldwyn,” SPWAG senior executive vice-president and general manager Adrian Alperovich said. “This film will absolutely blow audiences away.”

Samuel Goldwyn Films president Meyer Gottlieb said: “Blood is incredibly entertaining with some of the most exciting action sequences I’ve ever seen on film.”