Warner Brothers acquired the rights to adapt Death Note into a live-action film. Charles and Vlas Parlapanides (War of the Gods) will write the film's screenplay. Vertigo Entertainment's Roy Lee (The Lake House) and Doug Davison (The Lake House), Lin Pictures' Dan Lin (This Side of the Truth, and Brian Witten (Friday the 13th (2009)) are also attached to the proect.

Vertigo Entertainment developed American adaptations of Ju-On (The Grudge), Nonkyoku Monogatari (Eight Below), and Janghwa Hongryeon (The Uninvited), among other titles.

Death note received three live-action adaptations in Japan in addition to the televised anime. Viz currently holds the rights to the Death Note manga, anime series, spinoff novel, and live-action films. The third film, Death Note: L Change the World, just ended its theatrical run yesterday.