Japan’s Toei Company partner with South Africa’s Pambili Media to make Yasuke Samurai film

Japan’s Toei Company has partnered with South Africa’s Africa’s Pambili Media to make a Samurai film on Yasuke, a Japanese historical figure.

The film’s working title is ‘Yasuke – Way of the Butterfly’ and will be directed and written by Mandla Dube, founder of Pambili Media.

Yasuke has recently risen to prominence in popular culture since it was announced that he would be a playable character in the Ubisoft game Assassin’s Creed Shadows that was released in March 2025.

The collaboration is part of Pambili Media’s six-picture development slate backed by the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (IDC). 

The film will follow Yasuke on his journey from the African continent as he makes his journey to feudal Japan in the late 1500s.

Yasuke was made a samurai after local lord Odo Nobunaga recognised his skill as a warrior.

Dube said of the production and partnership “To work with a company of the caliber of Toei is a dream come true. In the telling of the Yasuke story, we strive for cultural authenticity while telling an entertaining story with global reach. I am deeply honored by this collaboration and look forward to a long and fruitful relationship.”

Yuji Kojima from Toei Company said “When Pambili Media first approached us with the idea of bringing Yasuke’s story to the screen, we were intrigued and inspired. This is not only an opportunity to reimagine an extraordinary historical journey, but also a mission that aligns with Toei’s long-standing tradition of producing bold, genre-defining stories. We are proud to lead this international collaboration.”

Toei often produces samurai films, at the Toei Kyoto Studios, which is located in Kyoto. 

‘Yasuke’ is expected to partially shoot at the location, and obtain Japanese government support through the JLOX+ initiative. 

It’s unclear when ‘Yasuke’ will begin to shoot, or who will star in as the titular figure.