LOS ANGELES — Twentieth Century Fox has signed visionary Japanese producer Taka Ichise (THE GRUDGE) to a new three-year, first-look deal, it was announced today. The pact, which covers English-language projects, is Taka’s first American overall studio deal. The pact will enable Fox to tap his formidable talents as one of the leading figures in the Japanese horror ("J-Horror") genre. J-Horror has had an ever-widening influence not only in American cinema, but in cutting-edge pop culture throughout the world.

The deal will also allow for Fox to finance specific Japanese-language projects through Taka’s Tokyo-based production company, OZ Co., Ltd. Taka also operates L.A.-based OZLA Pictures, Inc. Commented Twentieth Century Fox President Hutch Parker: "Taka’s cutting-edge sensibilities have reinvented horror filmmaking, and his work has translated well beyond Japan — and beyond the film industry. We look forward to Taka bringing his vision and talents to Fox, his new American home."

Commented Taka Ichise: "As a filmmaker and producer growing up in Japan, I have always admired Twentieth Century Fox, particularly its films, culture, history and especially its relationships with filmmakers, so I take great pride in starting this new working relationship."

One of Japan’s best known and most successful film producers, Taka has produced over 50 genre features for the Japanese, Asian and worldwide markets, and is best known for producing the J-horror hit JU-ON and JU-ON 2 as well as their American remakes THE GRUDGE and THE GRUDGE 2. THE GRUDGE, starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, grossed $110 million domestically. THE GRUDGE 2 is set to release October 13 of this year.

Taka is currently developing THE ENTITY at Fox Searchlight with Hideo Nakata (RINGU and THE RING 2) attached to direct. Also in development are an untitled horror project at Paramount with director Takashi Shimizu (JU-ON and THE GRUDGE) and producers Ghost House Pictures and Vertigo Entertainment attached; a remake of CREEPSHOW for Warner Bros. to which producers Vertigo Entertainment and Tony Ludwig are attached; and remakes of two of his J-horror films, INFECTION and PREMONITION, to be written by Channing Gibson and Keith Gordon, respectively, for New Line, also with Vertigo Entertainment producing.

Taka is represented by UTA. One of the world’s largest producers and distributors of motion pictures, Fox Filmed Entertainment produces, acquires and distributes motion pictures throughout the world. These motion pictures are produced or acquired by the following units of FFE: Twentieth Century Fox, Fox 2000 Pictures, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Fox Atomic, and Twentieth Century Fox Animation.