AJ Lee (real name AJ Mendez), who recently made waves upon her return to WWE, revealed that she penned a new movie alongside Aimee Garcia at anime studio giants Toei Animation (One Piece, Dragon Ball, Sailor Moon). The film follows Lee’s credits on Netflix original Blade of the 47 Ronin, which she co-wrote with John Swetnam and Garcia, the latter with whom she founded the production company Scrappy Heart Productions.
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Lee revealed to the What’s Your Story? With Steph McMahon podcast, “We’re developing a TV show; we just wrote our second feature. I think I have permission to say it. So, as another example… I think this is the first time anybody is hearing this: another example of manifestation is—I love anime so much—and so one of my favorite companies growing up was Toei. They did Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball Z, and these things that raised me, and so we’re writing a movie for Toei Animation [blushes], and I think that’s all I can say, but [it’s] such a dream come true to be in their office and see all Dragon Ball Z figures everywhere. [I] lost my mind! Like, ‘Can I move in here!?’ Just amazing.“
Further details, such as the other staff, release date, and more, are currently unknown. It’s worth noting that Stephanie Ma Stine (Kung-Fu Panda 4 co-director) is reportedly working on a film at Toei Animation.
In the podcast, Lee also discusses her return to WWE and her mental health journey. You can also check out her other writing work on the original graphic novel Day of the Dead Girl, IDW’s Dungeons & Dragons, and IDW’s GLOW (credits from Scrappy Heart Productions’ website). AJ also served as executive producer of the ViacomCBS series WOW and has appeared as an actor on Sacramento, Heels, and Like The Tide.
Source: What’s Your Story? With Steph McMahon
©Eiichiro Oda/Shuiesha, Toei Animation ©BIRD STUDIO/SHUEISHA, TOEI ANIMATION © Naoko Takeuchi, PNP, Toei Animation
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