After five years of preparation, the HOLLYWOOD movie project is making a BIG step forward.  The title of the film is ONE THOUSAND PAPER CRANES, which was introduced at the Cannes Film Festival on May 14, 2019.

This film is largely based on my fact based book, ONE THOUSAND PAPER CRANES: The Story of Sadako and the Children’s Peace Statue, published by Penguin Random House in 2001.

This film is about the life stories of Sadako Sasaki(1943-1955), a girl who folded One Thousand Paper Cranes and Eleanor Coerr (1922-2010,) who wrote the best selling book, Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes.

EVAN RACHEL WOOD will play the role of Eleanor Coerr.  Evan currently plays a role on the HBO series WESTWORLD for which she won a Critics Choice Award and earned Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominations.  She is in the movie FROZEN 2  as Iduna, the mother of Elsa and Anna.

The synopsis of the film is as follows: The incredible true story of Sadako Sasaki, a young girl living in Hiroshima when the atomic bomb was dropped. Years later when she gets leukemia, she hears about the legend that if someone folds one thousand paper cranes, a wish will be granted. At the same time, aspiring writer Eleanor Coerr learns of Sadako’s story and becomes determined to bring her message of hope and peace to the world. (DEADLINE HOLLYWOOD 2017)

The Director of the film is Richard Raymond and the Producer is Ian Bryce.  Ian is best known as the producer of SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, and Richard is known for the award winning film, Souls of Totality and Desert Dancer.  

SCRIPT: Ben Bolea

DIRECTOR: Richard Raymond

PRODUCERS: Ian Bryce, Richard Raymond, Irene Yeung

Evan Rachel Wood to Star in Hiroshima-Inspired ‘One Thousand Paper Cranes’

Sophie Turner Revealing 1000 Paper Cranes Script on the Black List 2017

May 7, 2019 STATEMENT BY FILM DIRECTOR, RICHARD RAYMOND

We have seen all the feedback and recognize everyone's concerns.  We would love to use this moment as an opportunity to clarify a couple aspects of our film.

The story of Sadako Sasaki, as told in this film, is based on Takayuki Ishii’s book “One Thousand Paper Cranes: The Story of Sadako and the Children’s Peace Statue”, which was painstakingly researched to honor Sadako, as well as the thousands of other men, women, and children who died as a result of the atomic bomb. I first reached out to Takayuki Ishii five years ago, in the spirit of a close collaboration to ensure Sadako’s story, and that of all Hibakusha, was honored with the utmost cultural respect.  This will be the true version of Sadako’s remarkable story, told from her point of view, filmed in Japanese with a Japanese cast.  We’re excited that Shinobu Terajima has joined the film as Sadako’s mother, and we are working hard to round out all the other cast members.

The film separately tells the story of Eleanor Coerr, who wrote the fictional children’s book “Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes” (which this film is not based on) and brought the story to international fame, further cementing Sadako’s legacy of peace and hope through the powerful symbol she created.

I was honored to meet with  and receive the support of Sadako’s family, the Hiroshima Peace Museum, and the Hiroshima Film Commission.  The entire creative team has gone to great lengths to protect the authenticity of Sadako’s story and everything she represents.  It is our sincerest hope that those who know and care so passionately about Sadako will be reminded of her inspiring story, and that those who see it for the first time will learn the true story of how one amazing girl spread hope around the world.

Spanish language publishing company, ALFAGUARA, will be publishing, Mil pájaros de papel (one thousand paper cranes) on the 4th of July 2020. Alfaguara is located in Madrid, Spain.