Live-Action Rurouni Kenshin Film Sequels First Teaser Trailer

The first teaser trailer of the much awaited live-action Rurouni Kenshin film sequels is finally revealed. The teaser highlights the original film's popularity as well as Tatsuya Fujiwara as Makoto Shishio.


The two upcoming Rurouni Kenshin films based on the Kyoto Arc entitled "Rurouni Kenshin: The Great Kyoto Fire Arc" and "Rurouni Kenshin: The End of a Legend Arc" are both slated to have summer 2014 release.

Live-Action Rurouni Kenshin Movie Sequels: First Photo of Makoto Shishio

Before the official Warner Brothers live-action Rurouni Kenshin website unveil it, a Japanese talk show finally revealed the first image of actor Tatsuya Fujiwara as Makoto Shishio!


Makoto Shishio is the main antagonist of the Rurouni Kenshin manga/anime series' Kyoto Arc, and yes, they retained his trademark burns and bandages, which he acquired thanks to the government "disposing" him after his job is done.

The two upcoming Rurouni Kenshin films based on the Kyoto Arc entitled "Rurouni Kenshin: The Great Kyoto Fire Arc" and "Rurouni Kenshin: The End of a Legend Arc" are both slated to have summer 2014 release.

[via Japanator, Anime News Network]

Death Note Stage Musical Coming in 2015

A stage musical based on the popular Death Note anime/manga series is announced. This musical will run in Japan and South Korea in 2015.

American composer Frank Wildhorn (composer of Whitney Houston songs, The Count of Monte Cristo) and Natalie Cole is scoring the musical with Jack Murphy (The Civil War, The Count of Monte Cristo) writing the lyrics. Ivan Menchell (Bonnie and Clyde, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) writing the scripts.

Directed by Tamiya Kuriyama, a a recipient of the Japanese government's Medal with Purple Ribbon, this musical will play in Tokyo's Nissay Theatre in April 2015 and in Seoul's LG Arts Center in July and August 2015.

Lastly, the cast for this musical is not yet announced.

[Source: Anime News Network]

Live-Action Rurouni Kenshin Movie Sequels: First Photo of Misao Makimachi

The official Warner Bros. live-action Rurouni Kenshin sequel films website posted a new photo for the upcoming film, which features Misao Makimachi!

Tao Tsuchiya (Ultraman Zero, Tokyo Sonata) will play the role of the Oniwabashu ninja gang member who later accompanied Kenshin Himura when he first arrived in Kyoto. The site also teased that they will reveal more pictures in a later date.

The two upcoming Rurouni Kenshin films based on the Kyoto Arc entitled "Rurouni Kenshin: The Great Kyoto Fire Arc" and "Rurouni Kenshin: The End of a Legend Arc" are both slated to have summer 2014 release.

[Source: Anime News Network]

Live-Action Rurouni Kenshin Movie Sequels: First Photo of Aoshi & Okina

The official Warner Bros. live-action Rurouni Kenshin sequel films website posted two new photos for the upcoming film, which features Aoshi Shinomori and Okina!

Yusuke Iseya (Honey & Clover, Ashita no Joe) will play the role of Aoshi Shinomori, the head of the Oniwabanshu ninja gang. Meanwhile, Min Tanaka (The Twilight Samurai) will play the role of former Oniwabanshū leader Nenji "Okina" Kashiwazaki. The site also teased that they will reveal more pictures in a later date.

The two upcoming Rurouni Kenshin films based on the Kyoto Arc entitled "Rurouni Kenshin: The Great Kyoto Fire Arc" and "Rurouni Kenshin: The End of a Legend Arc" are both slated to have summer 2014 release.

[via Anime News Network]

Live-Action Rurouni Kenshin Film Sequels Now Filming the Final Scene

Takeru Satoh's official website revealed that they are now filming the final scene of the live-action Rurouni Kenshin film sequels.
The site also revealed that Satoh got wounds all over his body and he is working hard, day and night filming the important last scene.

The two upcoming Rurouni Kenshin films based on the Kyoto Arc entitled "Rurouni Kenshin: The Great Kyoto Fire Arc" and "Rurouni Kenshin: The End of a Legend Arc" are both slated to have summer 2014 release.

[via JEFusion]

Live-Action Attack on Titan Film Adaptation Staff Revealed

The official Attack on Titan website announced that Shinji Higuchi (Neon Genesis Evangelion, Gamera) will direct the upcoming live-action film adaptation of the popular manga series.

In addition, Yuusuke Watanabe (Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods, Gantz) is writing the script. He is also working with film critic Tomohiro Machiyama and series creator Hajime Isayama for the said scripts. Isayama is also present at business meetings for the film and has offered ideas on the scripts and characters.

The casting for the series is currently underway. The filming begins in summer 2014 and is planned for a 2015 release. TOHO will produce and distribute the film.

[Source: Anime News Network]

Latest Rurouni Kenshin Live-Action Film Sequels Photo: Kenshin Himura

Aside from the first photo of Sojiro Seta in the upcoming live-action Rurouni Kenshin film sequels, here's a new picture of Takeru Satoh as Kenshin Himura in those two films.

In addition, the Warner Bros. Rurouni Kenshin site also teased that a new character picture will be revealed in December 2. The question is who is the character that they will reveal?

The two upcoming Rurouni Kenshin films based on the Kyoto Arc entitled "Rurouni Kenshin: The Great Kyoto Fire Arc" and "Rurouni Kenshin: The End of a Legend Arc" are both slated to have summer 2014 release.

Live-Action Rurouni Kenshin Movie Sequels: First Photo of Sojiro Seta

The first photo of Ryunosuke Kamiki as Sojiro Seta in the upcoming Rurouni Kenshin movie sequels has surfaced online. Seta is the right-hand man of former government assassin Makoto Shishio.

The last added cast member to the film is Tao Tsuchiya (Ultraman Zero) who will play Misao Makamichi. For the other additional cast members, you can check it here.

The two upcoming Rurouni Kenshin films based on the Kyoto Arc entitled "Rurouni Kenshin: The Great Kyoto Fire Arc" and "Rurouni Kenshin: The End of a Legend Arc" are both slated to have summer 2014 release.

[Source: Anime News Network]

Live-Action Black Butler (Kuroshitsuji) Full Movie Trailer

Here's the full trailer of the upcoming live-action Black Butler (Kuroshitsuji) movie. The movie takes place 130 years after the end of the manga/anime.


Shiori Genpou (played by Ayame Gouriki) is a descendant of the prestigious aristocratic family Phantomhive. Since only males can take the reins of the family, Shiori dons male clothes and the name Kiyoharu to lead the massive Phantom Corporation. Just like her ancestors, she is served by her demon butler named Sebastian Michaellis (played by Hiro Mizushima).

The movie will be directed by Kentaro Otani (Nana) and Keiichi Sato (Tiger & Bunny) and is set to premiere in January 14, 2014.

Live-Action Rurouni Kenshin Movie Sequels Filming is Halfway Done

Takeru Satoh's official blog revealed that filming for the live-action Rurouni Kenshin movie sequels is halfway done.

In addition to the two photos posted in the blog, Satoh expressed his excitement in entering the final stages of the film's production.

The two upcoming Rurouni Kenshin films based on the Kyoto Arc entitled "Rurouni Kenshin: The Great Kyoto Fire Arc" and "Rurouni Kenshin: The End of a Legend Arc" are both slated to have summer 2014 release.

Hollywood Live-Action Space Battleship Yamato Film Director Revealed

Pictured: The Japanese live-action film adaptation of Space Battleship Yamato

Deadline reported that Christopher McQuarrie (Edge of Tomorrow) is set to direct the Hollywood live-action film adaptation of the classic 70's anime series, Space Battleship Yamato or Star Blazers in the U.S.

McQuarrie will also produce the movie along with Josh C. Kline, David Ellison and Dana Goldberg. McQuarrie will also write the film. In addition, Shouji Nizhizaki and Paul Schwake will be the film's executive producers.

Yamato is set in a distant future, Earth's atmosphere has been obliterated by an alien race and mankind's only hope for survival is a form of alien technology that can deliver a small crew across the universe and back with the means to stave off extinction.

More Live-Action Black Butler Movie Plot Details Revealed

More details about the plot of the upcoming live-action Black Butler movie has surfaced online. The movie takes place 130 years after the events of the original manga, in an Asian city where Western and Asian cultures freely intermingle.

Since only males can take the reins of the Phantomhive family, a young woman named Shiori dons male clothes and the name Kiyoharu Genpou (played by Ayame Gouriki) to lead the massive Phantom Corporation.

The world Shiori lives in is divided between East and West, and she works as an intelligence operative (nicknamed the Queen's Watchdog) for the Queen of the Western nations, who is trying to unite the world. The Queen tasks Shiori to solve a "consecutive mummified mysterious deaths incident" as well as an incident of the disappearance of a few women. Before long, Shiori manages to discover a "black invitation" that ties the two incidents together, but that invitation leads her to a world she should not have entered, and she is cornered into a dilemma.

The movie will be directed by Kentaro Otani (Nana) and Keiichi Sato (Tiger & Bunny) and is set to premiere in January 14, 2014.

[Source: Anime News Network]

Keanu Reeves Updates the Status of Planned Live-Action Cowboy Bebop Movie

In Keanu Reeves' (The Matrix Trilogy) Reddit Ask Me Anything (AMA) thread, one fan asked the current status of the planned live-action Cowboy Bebop movie, which he replied:

Cowboy Bebop does not look like it is going to happen with me in it. The script that was written was great and amazing, but it would cost like half a billion dollars to make it, and while I wished and hoped I would have done that project, we are working on trying to get Bill & Ted 3. There's a script and we are trying to put it together.

Plans for a Cowboy Bebop movie started back in 2008 and it is said that the script was complete back in 2009 with Sunrise and the key Cowboy Bebop staff being closely involved with the project. Past interviews states that the film is not an origin story of the four-man Bebop bounty hunting crew. The last update for the project before this one was on April 2011 in Reeves' interview with MTV.

[Source: Anime News Network]

Live-Action Black Butler (Kuroshitsuji) Movie Photos Featuring New Cast Members

Natalie posted new photos for the upcoming live-action Black Butler movie starring Hiro Mizushima (Kamen Rider Kabuto, BECK) and Ayame Gouriki (Gatchaman). The new photos revealing more new characters.

To prepare for this role, Mizushima went down to 110 lbs (50 kg) to capture the sharp features of Sebastian Michaelis.

Ayame Gouriki plays the role of Shiori Genpou, a descendant of the prestigious aristocratic family Phantomhive. Since only males can take the reins of the family, Shiori dons male clothes and the name Kiyoharu to lead the massive Phantom Corporation.

Even though the movie takes place 130 years after the events of the manga/anime, actor Taro Shigaki will play the role of Tanaka, the butler of the Phantomhive family. In the original series, he is currently the House Steward of the family.

Model Mizuki Yamamoto as Lin, an original character for the movie and is currently, a maid serving the Phantomhive family.

Singer/former gravure idol Yuka plays the role of Hanae Wakatsuki, Shiori's aunt and aids Shiori and her demon butler Sebastian Michaelis in unraveling the film's mystery.

Model Louis Kurihara plays the role of Undertaker Jay, a character inspired by the original manga. Jay is an otherwordly figure of indeterminable age who lives in the underworld of society. Other characters who will appear in the upcoming film are:

Left to right: Charles Benevento (played by Yuu Shirota), Aunt's butler named Akashi (played by Tomomi Maruyama), Investigator Tokisawa (played by Ken Yasuda), Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bureau Director (played by Goro Kishitani), Junior Investigator Matsumiya Takaaki (played by Ohno Takuro) and Drug company president Kujo (played by Masato Ibu).

The movie will be directed by Kentaro Otani (Nana) and Keiichi Sato (Tiger & Bunny) and is set to premiere in January 14, 2014.

[Source: Crunchyroll News, Anime News Network (Undertaker Jay Info)]

Live-Action Rurouni Kenshin 2014 Film Sequels: Kenshin's Sword & Bad Weather

Here are some new updates for the upcoming Rurouni Kenshin live-action sequels coming from Takeru Sato's staff blog. Seen above is a shot of Kenshin holding a new sword.

In the original source material, Kenshin's sakabatō (reverse-edge sword) was broken in half and seeks for a new sword. He later learned that the creator of his sakabatō died and his son is taking care of business. To cut long story short, he gains a new sakabatō, which happens to be the last sword created by the same man who created his first sakabatō.

According to the staff report, they have a hard time shooting this scene because of the bad weather and they need to wait for the weather to turn good to continue the film's shooting. Seen in the shot above is part of a temple. For fans who remember the original source material, he had his climatic battle with Cho Sawagejo (played by Ryosuke Miura in the movie) happened outside of the said temple.

The two upcoming Rurouni Kenshin films based on the Kyoto Arc entitled "Rurouni Kenshin: The Great Kyoto Fire Arc" and "Rurouni Kenshin: The End of a Legend Arc" are both slated to have summer 2014 release.

Special thanks to LOVE JOY PEACE for the translation of the staff blog entry.

2014 Live-Action Rurouni Kenshin Movies' Misao Revealed

The actress who will play Oniwabanshuu's Misao Makimachi in the live-action Rurouni Kenshin movie sequels is finally revealed! Actress Tao Tsuchiya (Ultraman Zero, Tokyo Sonata) will play the role in the upcoming movies.

She got interested in the live-action Rurouni Kenshin movies after watching the first movie, causing her to audition for the said role. She started shooting for the movie sequels in the middle of July and she is doing all of her own action scenes.

In the Sports Hochi article, she said that she is learning every day because "the action requires a sense, such as giving twist to the kick." She will return to the shooting site in September through the end of the year. She is currently absorbed in physical preparation such as swimming, Pilates and running.

The two upcoming Rurouni Kenshin films based on the Kyoto Arc entitled "Rurouni Kenshin: The Great Kyoto Fire Arc" and "Rurouni Kenshin: The End of a Legend Arc" are both slated to have summer 2014 release.

Source: LOVE☆JOY☆PEACE Tumblr

Live-Action Gatchaman Movie Debuts at #6

Movie Walker Plus reports that the live-action movie adaptation of the Tatsunoko Production's anime, Gatchaman debuted in Japan at #6.

The film earned 115,650,690 yen (US$1,178,017) on 307 screens. Still on the top spot is Hayao Miyazaki's The Wind Rises, followed by Monsters University and Star Trek Into Darkness.

UPDATE (9/2/13): Now with the earnings the movie earned. Info from Anime News Network.

Live-Action Gatchaman Film Promoted in Latest ACUO Ad

The upcoming live-action Gatchaman film was recently promoted in an ACUO ad, which happens to be a brand of fresh mints advertised by Tori Matsuzaka who plays the role of Ken the Eagle in the said film.


The ACUO ad also features a new scene coming from the movie. In addition to the Gatchaman ad, a 2nd ACUO ad is also featured in the video. Gatchaman premieres this August 24, 2013.

Special thanks to Bobby Priyantono Sokarijo for the heads up!

New Live-Action Patlabor Movie Images Revealed

The official live-action Patlabor movie website updated its cover page featuring the live-action shot of the upcoming movie's mecha.

In addition to the photo found above, the Taiwan International Comic Exposition revealed a new visual coming from the upcoming film. Earlier this month, photos of the said mecha circulated online. The photos were originally taken in the Nanbu-Shijō area of Yokohama City, just south of Tokyo.

The upcoming movie is produced by Tohokushinsha Film Corporation with director Mamoru Oshii (Ghost in the Shell) involved in the upcoming live-action movie that is set to be released next year. Also co-producing the movie is Omnibus Japan (Ghost in the Shell, Evangelion movies).

Source: Anime News Network