American production company Skydance Media, a subsidiary of Paramount Pictures, has announced that they have acquired global rights for the upcoming Sword Art Online live-action TV series, which will be adapted from the original light novel. Film producer and executive producer Laeta Kalogridis (Avatar, Shutter Island) will write the script for the TV series. Miki Kazuma, editor of the light novel, mentioned that Kadokawa and Aniplex will release this news in Japan tomorrow morning.

The light novel, which is written by Reki Kawahara and illustrated by abec, has been publishing since April 2009 and currently has 17 volumes in-print. It has been adapted into two TV anime series by A-1 Pictures. The first season was broadcast for two cours in Summer 2012, followed by a TV special in December 2013. The second season broadcast in 2014. In addition to the anime adaptation, the series has received multiple manga adaptations by various artists. A movie is expected to premiere in Japan on February 18, 2017.

The series charted in the first half of the yearly manga and light novel rankings, selling a total of 489,374 copies, the second-to-most sales per series, while the 4th volume of Sword Art Online: Progressive was the most sold light novel volume with a total of 284,686 copies. Yen Press licensed the light novel and Aniplex of America licensed each of the TV series, as well as the special, for North American release.

Source: Skydance Media News Press