Willem Dafoe plays the bored shinigami Ryuk

The trailer for the upcoming live-action movie Death Note has been released by Netflix.

Based on the original 2003 Japanese Manga series, Death Note focuses on a teenage boy, Light Turner, who finds a book that kills anyone whose name is written in it. Turner then goes on a killing spree of criminals using the book, all the while being watched by the bored shinimagi Ryuk.

Nat Wolff stars as Light Turner and Ryuk is voiced by Willem Dafoe. The live-action film is directed by Blair Witch director Adam Wingard. Additionally, Keith Stanfield plays Light’s nemesis L and Margaret Qualley plays Mia Sutton (known as Misa Amane in the original series).

The original series earned international acclaim in its time with a number of subsequent movies, video games and even a musical continuing its legacy.

However, The Verge reports that the show has been criticised for whitewashing by casting Caucasian male and female leads.

Death Note will premiere on Netflix on 25 August.