Recently, Japan's Toei Co., Ltd. and South African film production company Pambili Media officially reached a cooperation agreement in Los Angeles, announcing that they will jointly create a historical film set in the Warring States period of Japan in the 16th century, tentatively titled "The Way of the Butterfly: The Legend of Yasuke".

The film focuses on a black samurai named Yasuke, whose story is not only little known in Japanese history, but is also brought to the big screen for the first time. It is worth noting that Yasuke is also one of the important characters in Ubisoft's latest game, Assassin's Creed: Shadows, and this crossover collaboration undoubtedly adds more topicality to the film.

Yutsugu Kojima, vice president of Toei and head of Kyoto Photo Studio, is looking forward to this collaboration. He said that joining hands with Pambili Media is a new exploration of Mizuki's extraordinary life journey, and it is also a manifestation of Toei's spirit of continuous pursuit of innovation and challenge.

Yasuke-hsien (Andao Prefecture), a black warrior from the African kingdom of Mwini Matapa, whose fate is legendary. The film will tell how he came to Japan via the sea trade route and won the appreciation of the Japanese lords for his excellent combat skills, being granted the status of samurai.

It was revealed that the film is one of six film projects developed by Pambili Media with the support of the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) of South Africa. The producers positioned it as an "epic international film rooted in an undertold history and showing connections across continents".

The screenwriter and director of the film is Mandela Dube, a well-known South African director, which makes "The Way of the Butterfly: The Legend of Yasuke" a rare Japanese-South film and television collaboration. Director Dube has previously directed a number of critically acclaimed films, including the Netflix thriller "The Siege of Silverton," based on true events, and "The Hunter's Heart," the first African film to reach the top of Netflix's global charts.

With the official conclusion of the partnership, audiences are full of anticipation for this film that blends history, adventure and legend. It is believed that in the near future, "The Way of the Butterfly: The Legend of Yasuke" will become a bridge between Japanese and South African cultures, bringing a feast for the eyes and souls of the audience.