Afro Samurai returns to Spike in January

Spike TV’s critically-acclaimed anime series Afro Samurai returns with an original movie event set to premiere on the network in January 2009. Afro Samurai: Resurrection stars Academy Award-nominated actor Samuel L. Jackson opposite, Emmy Award-nominated actress Lucy Liu. Award winning artist The RZA once again provides the original score.

Afro Samurai: Resurrection is based on the original art and story telling of manga artist Takashi Okazaki, of a black samurai’s quest for revenge and justice for his murdered father. Samuel L. Jackson (upcoming film The Spirit) reprises his role as the uncompromising hero, Afro and his motor-mouthed sidekick Ninja Ninja. When his father’s body is stolen from its grave, Afro is forced to pick up his sword and wreak bloody vengeance against an army of deadly foes lead by a sadistic mastermind.

Lucy Liu (Charlie’s Angels, Kill Bill, Dirty Sexy Money) will give voice to Sio, a beautiful, seductive and sadistic mastermind plotting to destroy Afro Samurai. Liu can currently be heard as Master Viper in the animated film Kung Fu Panda.

Additional casting includes Mark Hamill as Bin, Sio’s manservant and protector and Yuri Lowenthal as Kuma, the teddy bear-headed warrior from the original Afro Samurai series. Best known as the young hero Luke Skywalker in the original Star Wars trilogy, Mark Hamill has had a successful career on Broadway, as a voice actor in both animation and video games and as a comic book creator. Yuri Lowenthal is the voice of Sauske in the hit children’s anime series and cultural phenomenon Naruto.

Fans who can’t get enough of Afro Samurai can get their latest fix with the 2009 release of the Afro Samurai video game. Afro Samurai comes to the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 from Namco Bandai Games. Based on the hit animated series starring and executive-produced by Samuel L. Jackson, join Afro in his tale of revenge as he searches for his father’s murderer and the holder of the coveted number one headband. Blending modern hip hop with traditional Japanese culture, Afro Samurai is a cutting edge game that will deliver a new kind of cinematic experience which offers addictive and compelling gameplay that is literally dripping in style.

For more information on Afro Samurai, visit www.namcobandaigames.com or www.afrosamurai.com.