News

Shinji Higuchi (44), known as the “Heisei special effects king” for his work on the Heisei era Gamera trilogy, is supervising the production of his first TV drama. The show is called MM9 (Monster Magnitude 9) and is set in an alternate version of modern-day Japan in which monster attacks are the norm and are treated as another form of natural disaster. The show is based on a story by sci-fi writer Hiroshi Yamamoto which was originally serialized in Tokyo Sogensha’s “Mysteries!” from 2005-2006 and published as a book in 2007.

The project was first hinted at through an April Fools joke which presented it as a “sci-fi epic” called XX9. Higuchi released a photo of the cast dressed up in traditional sci-fi outfits and wielding futuristic rifles.

The show centers around a special “living creatures” division of the Japan Meteorological Agency which predicts the appearance of monsters. When an attack does occur,...

Shinji Higuchi has had a long, varied career with no shortage of epics sprinkled throughout. From handling special effects for the Heisei era Gamera series to directing his own massive hits like Lorelei and Japan Sinks, it’s usually safe to assume anything he’s involved in will be done pretty big. That’s why, when a mysterious website went up late last week for his next film, tentatively titled “XX9”, people took notice.

Not very much at all is known about XX9 yet, but a promotional photo has been released as well as this very vague description:

“The tale of a group of saviors selflessly confronting an unprecedented emergency brought on by a mysterious living entity.”

Though the cast has yet to be announced officially, some can be identified from the photo. So far I think I spot Yutaka Matsushige at the top, Sarutoki Minagawa on the bottom right,...