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Two years ago, the curse of live-action adaptations was broken by Netflix’s One Piece, which changed the whole perspective towards the art form as a whole. The series gave hope to other anime franchises that they still have a chance to get a live-action adaptation that is actually loved and thoroughly enjoyed by fans.

However, there was one other live-action movie that managed to surpass the expectations of anime fans and raise the bar of these adaptations. It was the Bleach: The Soul Reaper Agent Arc film that came out in 2018 and adapted the first phase of the Bleach storyline.

While the film could not generate huge numbers, it managed to generate decent reception at a time when live-action adaptations were impossible to nail. What worked for the Bleach live-action film was the combat sequences and action choreography, which were phenomenal and quite close to the original portrayal within the Bleach anime and manga.

Tite Kubo’s Bleach is a sprawling tale filled to the brim with soul reapers, hollows, and quincies. While the story tries to justify the existence of each of its characters, not everyone gets the spotlight they deserve. Gin Ichimaru, the former captain of the Gotei 13’s 3rd Division, is one such character who feels like a fumbled opportunity.

Despite having the potential to stand out due to his serpentine charm, he suffered due to a poorly written arc and limited screentime. This left me wanting more. While Kubo could theoretically revive him for Rangiku’s sake, I can’t forgive him for fumbling such a good character.

Gin: A compelling character undermined by limited screen time Gin Ichimaru’s cold stare while killing Aizen | Credits: Studio Pierrot

The first time I saw Gin, I knew the man had potential (fight me). His sly, fox-like demeanor and serpentine-like face structure oozed mystery,...

The 2018 Bleach live-action movie might have received mixed reviews, but the one thing that fans unanimously agreed on was the fact that Sota Fukushi nailed the role of Ichigo. And according to the voice actor, all thanks go to Kamen Rider Fourze.

Fukushi made his acting debut in 2011 in an Ntv drama, Misaki Number One!! And just three months after his debut, he was cast in Kamen Rider Fourze as its lead role, Gentaro Kisaragi. He was selected from around 3000 applicants for the role. And it was this role that changed not only Fukushi’s career but also his entire experience.

Without Kamen Rider Fourze, Sota Fukushi might have never been Bleach‘s stunning Ichigo Sota Fukushi in Kamen Rider Fourze | Credits: TV Asahi, Asatsu-dk, Toei

In a 2019 interview with Fashion Press, actor Sota Fukushi talked about his roles after his debut and how his lead role in Kamen Rider Fourze shaped his journey ahead.

Live-action adaptations of anime are infamous for not living up to the mark for very apparent reasons. There are many factors in anime that become a hurdle to portray on the big screen with all their complexity.

This becomes more of an issue for an anime like Bleach, where we get plenty of fantasy elements and a variety of characters. There are also monsters and elaborate power structures that are essentially the soul of the story and are tough to reimagine in reality.

Ichigo from Bleach [Credits: Studio Pierrot]

Perhaps this is why Netflix’s Bleach adaptation missed the mark and could not do justice to the legacy of Tite Kubo as faithfully as the audience wanted. It was definitely not terrible, but it was not the greatest, either.

Bleach was a decent movie that had both positive and negative aspects

A live-action movie of Bleach was needed because it kept...

Well, here we are again. As we mention almost every year, the fact that the Japanese movie industry manages to produce the more ‘7/10′ movies than any other industry in the world has, once again, led it to the top of the Asia, since other countries’ industries have their ups and downs, with the Korean one in particular having one of its worst years in recent times. Furthermore, and despite the inherent problems local productions face, including the number of productions that is around 600 on a yearly basis, the gradual opening up of the industry, as witnessed in a number of co-productions with other Asian countries that was particularly evident in Tokyo International Film Festival, and the support program for local filmmakers to attend international festivals the government announce, local cinema has a number of reasons to be optimistic.

Without further ado, here are the best Japanese movies of 2024, in reverse order,...

Takashi Miike is a prolific Japanese filmmaker with over 100 films and television production credits. Now in his 60s, he is still making movies just as vibrant and outlandish as ever, often filled with grotesque violence. In 2017, he made the feature-length adaptation of Hiroaki Samura’s popular manga series, “Blade of the Immortal” (Original title: Mugen no jûninc). Miike’s samurai action film follows the immortal samurai Manji, who decides to help orphaned Rin Asano seek revenge against those who brutally killed her parents. Takuya Kimura stars in the central role of Manji whereas Hana Sugisaki plays vengeful Rin Asano. The film is available to stream on Netflix in select countries.

Spoilers Ahead

Blade of the Immortal (2017) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:

Takashi Miike’s “Blade of the Immortal” follows immortal fighter Manji helping Rin Asano seek vengeance for the sudden, unfortunate death of her parents. It’s a Samurai action thriller...

When Netflix released the long-awaited Bleach live-action adaptation in 2018, the anime and manga world went crazy. The adaptation by Shinsuke Sato, starring Sota Fukushi as Ichigo Kurosaki, brought a new energy into Tite Kubo’s influential tale. The film, of course, was not without flaws, as a danger always accompanies when adapting an anime or manga to a live action movie. But it principally succeeded in capturing the heart of its original anime counterpart.

It was all Aizen’s plan | Credits: Studio Pierrot

However, people might now be surprised by rumors of its newer upcoming adaptation by Netflix. Yes. Also, fans have already voted for the new reimagined Hollywood cast which might leave you wondering whether the original was actually better!

Fan Chooses Timothee Chalamet as Ichigo’s Live-Action Counterpart! Rangiku Matsumoto from the Bleach series | Credits: Studio Pierrot

As the beloved Bleach series nears its 20th anniversary, rumors have...

The progress of Asian short filmmaking became clear once more in this year's Ssff & Asia, with the number of quality productions being truly overwhelming. The quality of production for the Japanese ones was, as usually, quite high, with the newest trend, of having popular actors taking the seat of the director, definitely seems to work, through the film of names like Riisa Naka, Win Morisaki and Sota Fukushi. The ones from the Asean countries continue to exhibit the most creativity while touching serious social issues. “Ruthless Blade”, an impressive Chinese animation by Zhang Bo and “Knitting My Heart”, a Korean short with wicked humor by Oh Ji-hyeon were two more titles that stood out.

Check our whole coverage on the link below and click on the titles to read the full reviews.

1. A Catholic Schoolgirl (2023) by Myra Angeline Soriaso

Myra Angeline Soriaso shoots a film that deals with the concept...

Sota Fukushi is a Japanese actor. He rose to prominence portraying Gentaro Kisaragi in “Kamen Rider Fourze”, and has since starred in television series Koinaka (2016) and My Lover's Secret (2017), as well as films Strobe Edge (2015), My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday (2016), “Bleach” (2018), “As the Gods Will”, “Blade of the Immortal”, “Laplace's Witch” and others. “Yours” is his directorial debut.

Yours is screening at Short Shorts Film Festival and Asia

The film begins inside an art gallery, where a man and a woman are watching an abstract painting, initially through intense close ups and later on, from further away. An employee dropping some boxes he has been carrying brings them out of their trance, although the woman is nowhere to be found after the break. The next scene takes place inside an apartment where the same young man is looking at a pamphlet of an Employment Support Festival for the Disabled, before the...

Live-action anime adaptations, like Bleach (2018), face challenges condensing expansive source material into feature-length films. Bleach (2018) successfully abridged its source material, keeping key themes while streamlining the story for cinematic appeal, but could have gone even further. While Bleach (2018) was solid, it missed key opportunities to delve deeper into the manga's intricate world and character development.

Whether they're made in Japan or internationally, live-action anime adaptations usually don't have the most stellar reputation with audiences. As far as most anime and manga fans are concerned, live-action adaptations should never even be attempted, and are an insult to their favorite artistic medium. Even in light of recent successes like Alita: Battle Angel, Netflix's One Piece and the Ruroni Kenshin movies, it's hard to deny that this particular cinematic niche still has a lot of learning and improving to do. These titles tend to be exceptions to the norm. One notable adaptation...

Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia (Ssff & Asia) 2024, one of Asia's largest international short film festivals accredited by the US Academy Awards®, today announced the nominees and special screenings for various categories on the official festival website. This year's festival will be held at multiple venues in Tokyo, starting with the Opening Ceremony on Tuesday, June 4th and ending with the Awards Ceremony on Monday, June 17th. The festival will be preceded by an online venue starting today, Thursday, April 25th and running until Sunday, June 30th under the theme “Illuminate your life”, with a selection of short films (including special non-competition screenings) curated by the festival.

Announcement of around 270 nominated works, selected from 4,936 entries from 114 countries and regions around the world. In the Japan category of the Live Action competition, which leads to the Academy Awards, short films by actors and directors such as Yudai Chiba, Risa Naka, Sota Fukushi,...

Manga are, in the simplest terms, Japanese comics and graphic novels. They mostly adhere to a specific style and form that is based on traditional Japanese art. Loosely translated, manga means "whimsical pictures." Manga subjects range from fantasy and sci-fi to historical and romance, which makes them perfect stories to adapt to many diverse film genres.

Manga is for people of all ages and is a serious business in Japan, making up a large share of the country's publishing. The stories are often very creative or completely off-the-wall, which are major reasons for their draw. Many popular Manga have been turned into anime, and Japanese animation, like Akira and Dr. Slump, but there are some truly amazing live-action adaptations as well.

The Curse Of The Blade Of The Immortal

Blade of the Immortal (2017) DramaAction

Original title: Mugen no jûnin.

Cursed with a life of immortality, a samurai is tasked by...

The “death game” sub-genre sees ordinary people fight for survival through murderous games, puzzles, and exercises. These heightened stories have become so popular because of their tendency to turn torture and suffering into a twisted form of entertainment — a concept that feels increasingly authentic with each passing year. There are dozens of anime that fit the murderous death game mold between Deadman Wonderland, Danganronpa, and Gantz. However, there are also a handful of series that specifically follow Takashi Miike’s As the Gods Will and Hwang Dong-hyuk’s Squid Game’s example, where childish recreational games and activities become the competitive tools of these characters’ destruction. Kaiji, Liar Game, Death Parade, Alice in Borderland, and Btooom! all follow this model to some extent. As the Gods Will predates Squid Game by six years, but there’s fascinating crossover between these two death game stories. As the Gods Will is the...

The Bleach live-action movie, a critically acclaimed adaptation of Tite Kubo's iconic series, is leaving Netflix’s vast library this August.

In the rapidly shifting landscape of streaming content, Netflix has been the trailblazer for many breakthroughs and challenges. The recent development is set to cause a stir within the dedicated anime community as per ComicBook.

The 2018 Bleach movie highlights the art of translating anime to live-action, with Shinsuke Sato's expert direction and Sota Fukushi capturing the essence of Ichigo Kurosaki. The film beautifully encapsulates the spirit of Karakura Town's adventures. The narrative encompassed the beginning arcs of the series, leading up to the point where Rukia gets apprehended by the Soul Society, leaving the audience with an enticing cliffhanger.

Anime's transition to live-action has often been rife with controversy, with many adaptations failing to capture the essence of their animated counterparts. However, Bleach was a pleasant anomaly.

The Mediapro Studio has dropped a teaser for “The Head” Season 2, with first footage in the run-up to its simultaneous premiere on HBO Max in the U.S. and Spain on Dec. 22.

Season 2 rolls off a first season which has proved one of Spain’s biggest breakout hits, sold by the The Mediapro Studio Distribution to over 90 countries including top-echelon players HBO Max for the U.S., plus Starzplay, Canal Plus (France), and Amazon’s Prime Video.

It also played to positive critical reactions. “Watching this, I could practically feel the ice crystals forming on my beard – and I don’t even have a beard,” Suzi Feay wrote in The Financial Times.

Produced once more in association with Hulu Japan, Season 2, whose teaser-trailer has been shared in exclusivity with Variety, is described by Tms as an “action-packed suspense thriller.” Nothing in the teaser belies that billing. Season 2 retains many of...

HBO Max is set to premiere in exclusivity “The Head” Season 2 in Spain on Dec. 22.

As a preview, on Nov. 1, HBO Max will release the first full season of “The Head,” which was originally bowed in Spain by Orange. The second season will be made available in a marathon format, HBO Max and The Mediapro Studio announced Thursday.

HBO Max has already released “The Head” Season 1 in the U.S. and Latin America.

The biggest hit to date from The Mediapro Studio, opening in over 90 territories worldwide, “The Head” Season 2 sees Season 1’s two survivors – renowned biologist Arthur Wilde (John Lynch), head of Polaris VI’s scientific mission, and Maggie (Katharine O’Donnelly), the station’s young doctor – now on board the Alexandria, a massive scientific freighter that houses a major laboratory, where Wilde, who has escaped from jail, carries out a crucial mission in the fight against climate change, to...

Madrid-based The Mediapro Studio, one of Europe’s super-indies, is re-teaming with Hulu Japan to produce Season 2 of thriller “The Head,” the studio’s hit drama series whose Season 1 was broadcast in more than 90 countries.

The English-language shoot has got underway in Tenerife, in Spain’s The Canary Islands, helmed by Jorge Dorado, who directed Season 1.

“The Head” Season 2 boasts an extensive international cast led once again by John Lynch and Katharine O’Donnelly.

Joining them for Season 2, the series features Hovik Keuchkerian, Moe Dunford (“Texas Chainsaw Massacre”), Josefin Nelden (“The Restaurant”) and Olivia Morris (“Hotel Portofino”).

Season 2’s newest additions in leading roles take in Enrique Arce, Nora Ríos and Tania Watson, Thierry Godard and the special collaboration of Japan’s Sota Fukushi (“Bleach”).

If Season 1 was set at a remote polar research station, the principal setting for “The Head” Season 2 will once again be an isolated and inaccessible location,...

Another Decade with Takashi Miike is a series of essays on the 2010s films of the Japanese maverick, following Notebook's earlier survey of Miike's first decade of the 21st century.As the Gods Will (2014) picks up where Lesson of the Evil (2012) left off, with a massacre at a high school. Again, Takashi Miike is considering the unspeakable—namely, the wholesale slaughter of children in the place we most expect them to be safe—but there are some critical differences this time. Lesson of the Evil followed the perpetrator of an atrocity for months (and about an hour of screen time) before he shot up a high school, thereby acclimating viewers to how terrible he could be; the massacre didn’t seem to come out of nowhere. As the Gods Will, on the other hand, presents a scene of multiple homicide mere minutes after the title cards appear. It’s as...

Ichigo Kurosaki is a 16-year old high school student with a special ability – he can see ghosts! After his family is attacked by a malevolent spirit known as a Hollow, Ichigo, with the help of Soul Reaper Rukia Kuchiki, must become a Soul Reaper himself in order to save the ones he loves most.

Based on the incredibly popular and successful Manga and Anime of the same name, Bleach is Netflix’s latest live action film to attempt to capture the essence of one of Japan’s greatest exports and after lackluster efforts such as Fullmetal Alchemist, I am pleased to report that this may just be the best endeavor to date.

Directed by Shinsuke Sato, the film follows the anime’s first arc in which Ichigo initially receives his powers and must help Rukia overcome the Soul Reapers Byakuya and Renji after she breaks the Shinigami code whilst also...

It's not often that I review family friendly melodramas. However, there was one at Fantasia 2018 that stood out, and I just couldn't resist. The Travelling Cat Chronicles from director Kôichirô Miki is based on the bestselling pet-lit book by Hiro Arikawa; if you were unaware of the novel, or haven't read it (like myself), this film adaptation will pique your interest. Watch the trailer over at the film's Fantasia page here. Right from the start, The Travelling Cat Chronicles tugs at the heartstrings with a wounded kitty and the gushing empathy of the protagonist Satoru.      Satoru goes on a trip through Japan as he visits...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

Takashi Miike’s surreally violent action movie based in Hiroaki Samura’s long-running manga may not be his best work but is brutally dramatic

At the age of 57, the staggeringly prolific Japanese film-maker and master of mayhem Takashi Miike now passes the 100 feature film mark with this expansive and surreally violent supernatural action movie; you could almost call it an undead samurai picaresque. It is based on Hiroaki Samura’s 30-volume manga, which ran for 20 years until 2012. Takuya Kimura plays Manji, a samurai cursed with immortality – “bloodworms” that magically heal any wound – who is asked by a young woman, Rin, to avenge the death of her father at the hands of the renegade ronin group, the Itto-ryu. Rin eerily resembles Machi, the disturbed figure whom Manji had witnessed being brutally butchered 50 years before: they are both played by Hana Sugisaki. Now, burdened by gallantry, honour and a sense of destiny,...

Over this past weekend, legendary filmmaker Takashi Miike (Ichi the Killer, Audition, Visitor Q, One Missed Call) celebrated the release of his 100th directorial effort, his big screen adaptation of Hiroaki Samura’s manga Blade of the Immortal. The story follows a young girl named Rin (Hana Sugisaki), who is seeking vengeance on the man who killed her father, the devious Anotsu Kagehisa (Sôta Fukushi). Rin hires the immortal warrior Manji (Takuya Kimura) to help her on her quest, and the two forge a deep bond on their travels, fighting off dangerous assassins, thugs, and mercenaries together.

While Miike was in Los Angeles this past Friday, Daily Dead had the opportunity to briefly speak with him, and we discussed his initial interest in adapting the Blade of the Immortal manga, the timelessness of his latest cinematic story, and whether or not he’s made plans for future projects after recently hitting 100 movies,...

Based on the manga series of the same name by Hiroaki Samura, Takashi Miike’s Blade Of The Immortal follows “an immortal swordsman who will not be able to lift his curse of everlasting life until 1000 evildoers feel the cut of his steel.”

Samurai Manji has taken a lot of lives, both innocent and guilty, and now lives life in feudal Japan as a criminal. After being cursed with immortality until he kills enough evil men, Manji meets a young girl who enlists him to be her body-guard. Swearing loyalty, protection and vengeance against the group of sword fighters who slaughtered her family, the unlikely duo set on a remarkable quest to make right against those who did them wrong.

Starring Hana Sugisaki, Ebizô Ichikawa, Sôta Fukushi, Hayato Ichihara, Erika Toda, Kazuki Kitamura, Min Tanaka, Takuya Kimura and Tsutomu Yamazaki, Blade Of The Immortal hits Us cinemas on 3rd November...

Based on the manga series of the same name by Hiroaki Samura, Takashi Miike’s Blade Of The Immortal follows “an immortal swordsman who will not be able to lift his curse of everlasting life until 1000 evildoers feel the cut of his steel.”

Samurai Manji has taken a lot of lives, both innocent and guilty, and now lives life in feudal Japan as a criminal. After being cursed with immortality until he kills enough evil men, Manji meets a young girl who enlists him to be her body-guard. Swearing loyalty, protection and vengeance against the group of sword fighters who slaughtered her family, the unlikely duo set on a remarkable quest to make right against those who did them wrong.

Starring Hana Sugisaki, Ebizô Ichikawa, Sôta Fukushi, Hayato Ichihara, Erika Toda, Kazuki Kitamura, Min Tanaka, Takuya Kimura and Tsutomu Yamazaki, Blade Of The Immortal hits Us cinemas on 3rd November...

Tony Sokol Sep 1, 2017

Here's the trailer for Takashi Miike's Blade Of The Immortal...

“Sorry, got blood on it,” Samurai Manji apologises in the new Blood Of The Immortal trailer, undercutting a subtle action hero wit just under the skin of Takashi Miike's 100th film.

The trailer then shows the tireless warrior face off against armies, risking lives and losing limbs in a breakneck assault on the senses. The 13 Assassins director is still as fresh as the wounds his swordsmen inflict on armies of assassins. The film premiered in May at Cannes. Magnet Releasing announced Blade Of The Immortal will open in America in November, although no UK date has thus far been confirmed.

Written and directed by Miike, the epic fantasy film is is based on Hiroaki Samura’s Japanese manga series Blade Of The Immortal.

“Samurai Manji has taken a lot of lives, both innocent and guilty,...

Premiering at Cannes this year, Takashi Miike brought his (100th!) new film Blade of the Immortal, a jidaigeki (period drama) action film based on the manga series by Hiroaki Samura. The story follows Manji, a samurai who cannot be killed by any wound, but who is vulnerable to a rare poison. Manji is enlisted by a young girl to avenge her parents, who were killed by a master swordsman.

Now set for a North American premiere at Fantastic Fest followed by a release in November, the first U.S. red band trailer has landed courtesy of Magnet Releasing. Featuring a wild ensemble of characters and slick-looking action, it’s looking like the ideal alternative from prestige fare this fall. Starring Takuya Kimura, Hana Sugisaki, Sôta Fukushi, Ebizô Ichikawa, Min Tanaka, and Tsutomu Yamazaki, see the trailer below.

Samurai Manji has taken a lot of lives, both innocent and guilty, and...

Magnet Releasing, the genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, has just posted the Red Band trailer for the upcoming film "Blade Of The Immortal", based on the manga by Hiroaki Samura. The film is directed by Takashi Miike and written by Tetsuya Oishi. Takuya Kimura, one of Japan's biggest stars ("Space Battleship"), plays the lead alongside newcomer Hana Sugisaki. Sôta Fukushi and Ebizô Ichikawa ("13 Assassins") round out the cast with veterans Min Tanaka and Tsutomu Yamazaki. "Blade Of The Immortal" marks Japanese director Takashi Miike's 100th film ! The Blade of the Immortal manga was first published in “Afternoon” from June 25, 1993 to December 25, 2012. An anime adaptation was produced in 2008 as well as a Japanese novel. The American version of the novel was released in...

Over the better part of three decades, filmmaker Takashi Miike has dazzled viewers with bold cinematic visions like 13 Assassins, Audition, and Ichi the Killer. Now, for his 100th film, Miike shows us the high body count that comes from a warrior who can't die in Blade of the Immortal, featured in a new red band trailer brimming with gorgeously orchestrated action piles of dismembered limbs.

"Samurai Manji has taken a lot of lives, both innocent and guilty, and now lives life in feudal Japan as a criminal. After being cursed with immortality until he kills enough evil men, Manji meets a young girl who enlists him to be her body-guard. Swearing loyalty, protection and vengeance against the group of sword fighters who slaughtered her family, the unlikely duo set on a remarkable quest to make right against those who did them wrong."

Written and directed by Takashi Miike, Blade of the Immortal stars Takuya Kimura,...

"There is a man somewhere in edo who will never die." Magnet Releasing has debuted a badass, bloody new red band trailer for Takashi Miike's Blade of the Immortal, being billed as the "100th film" from the Japanese filmmaker. Adapted from a manga of the same name, it's about an immortal samurai who has to kill 1000 evil men in order to regain his mortality after being hired to protect a young girl. Starring Hana Sugisaki, Ebizô Ichikawa, Sôta Fukushi, Hayato Ichihara, Erika Toda, Kazuki Kitamura, Min Tanaka, Takuya Kimura and Tsutomu Yamazaki. The film first premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and is also playing at Fantastic Fest this fall. I interviewed Takashi Miike at Cannes, talking about violence and more. This has some seriously awesome action, and a totally weird, wild story. As expected from Miike. Here's the newest red band trailer for Takashi Miike's Blade of the Immortal,...

Takashi Miike is known for pushing the boundaries when it comes to graphic violence and extreme situations, and fans shouldn’t worry that he’s lost his touch after 100 films. The Japanese director hits the centennial mark with “Blade of the Immortal,” an action fantasy epic based on the Japanese manga series by Hiroaki Samura.

The official synopsis reads: “Samurai Manji has taken a lot of lives, both innocent and guilty, and now lives life in feudal Japan as a criminal. After being cursed with immortality until he kills enough evil men, Manji meets a young girl who enlists him to be her body-guard. Swearing loyalty, protection and vengeance against the group of sword fighters who slaughtered her family, the unlikely duo set on a remarkable quest to make right against those who did them wrong.”

Read More:Takashi Miike is the Most Prolific Filmmaker in the World and He...

Bleach Trailer and Poster Shinsuke Sato‘s Bleach (2018) teaser trailer and movie poster stars Sôta Fukushi. Bleach‘s plot synopsis: based on the manga by Tite Kubo, “Ichigo Kurosaki never asked for the ability to see ghosts—he was born with the gift. When his family is attacked by a Hollow—a [...]

Continue reading: Bleach (2018) Teaser Trailer: Ichigo Protects the Innocent as a Soul Reaper...

Exclusive: HanWay inks deal with Arrow Films, which plots “major” release.

Arrow Films has acquired all UK rights for Blade Of The Immortal from HanWay at Cannes Film Festival.

Takashi Miike’s samurai epic, based on Hiroaki Samura’s long-running manga of the same name, follows an immortal warrior who is enlisted by a young girl to avenge her parents’ slaughter at the hand of a group of master swordsmen.

Takuya Kimura (Hero), plays the lead alongside newcomer Hana Sugisaki. Sôta Fukushi and Ebizô Ichikawa (13 Assassins) round out the cast with veterans Min Tanaka and Tsutomu Yamazaki.

Arrow plans to release the film later this year.

The film was written by Tetsuya Oishi and produced by Jeremy Thomas, Misako Saka, and Shigeji Maeda, with Warner Bros Japan.

The deal was negotiated by Mark Lane at HanWay Films on behalf of the filmmakers with Tom Stewart, acquisitions director of Arrow Films, who said of...

Blade of the Immortal Trailer and Poster Takashi Miike‘s Blade of the Immortal (2017) movie trailer and movie poster star Takuya Kimura, Hana Sugisaki, Sôta Fukushi, Hayato Ichihara, and Erika Toda. Blade of the Immortal‘s plot synopsis: “Manji, a highly skilled samurai, becomes cursed with immortality after a legendary battle. Haunted by the brutal murder of [...]

Continue reading: Blade Of The Immortal (2017) Movie Trailer: Takashi Miike’s Samurai Film is His 100th Film...

Takashi Miike’s latest samurai film, “Blade of the Immortal” (“Mugen no jûnin”), is one of the five films screening Out of Competition at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. The movie — the 100th for the Japanese director — was produced by Academy Award winner Jeremy Thomas (“The Last Emperor”). The film stars Takuya Kimura in the lead role.

Read More: Blade of the Immortal’ Review: Takashi Miike’s Landmark Feature Is One of His Most Lethal Genre Offerings Ever – Cannes

Based on Hiroaki Samura’s eponymous manga series, the film follows a masterful samurai named Manji (Kimura) who is cursed with immortality as a result of an epic battle. He’s haunted by the murder of his sister, and resorts to fighting evil in order to regain his soul. He helps a young girl (Hana Sugisaki) avenge her parents’ killing by a group of master swordsmen led by ruthless warrior...

"We are here to remove you." Feast your eyes on this! HanWay Films has debuted a new official trailer for Takashi Miike's Blade of the Immortal, which is premiering at the Cannes Film Festival this week. This is technically Miike's 100th film (!!) and it's another samurai, sword fighting epic. Adapted from a manga of the same name, it's about an immortal samurai who has to kill 1000 evil men in order to regain his mortality after being hired to protect a girl. Starring Hana Sugisaki, Ebizô Ichikawa, Sôta Fukushi, Hayato Ichihara, Erika Toda, Kazuki Kitamura, Min Tanaka, Takuya Kimura and Tsutomu Yamazaki. I actually just saw this film a few hours ago and it's badass, with some truly epic fights involving hundreds of samurais. It's violent, and bloody, and funny at times, with gorgeous sets and costumes. Take a look below. Here's the new official trailer for Takashi Miike's Blade of the Immortal,...

Even a film festival as Important and Prestigious as Cannes needs a couple movies to serve as a breather between the usually heavy, serious fare that marks the majority of the programming. This year, that duty falls on Takashi Miike‘s “Blade Of The Immortal,” with the prolific Japanese filmmaker serving up a samurai saga.

Takuya Kimura, Hana Sugisaki, Sôta Fukushi, Ebizô Ichikawa, Min Tanaka, and Tsutomu Yamazaki star in the movie about an immortal samurai who attempts to reclaim his soul by helping a young woman avenge her parents.

Continue reading Meet An Immortal Warrior In First Trailer For Takashi Miike’s Samurai Cannes Film ‘Blade Of The Immortal’ at The Playlist.

Exclusive: Watch the first full-length English-language trailer for samurai epic.

Screen can reveal the first full-length English-language trailer for Takashi Miike’s samurai epic Blade Of The Immortal, which is playing out of competition in Cannes.

Watch the trailer, whose kick-ass theme song comes from Japanese musician Miyavi, below or on mobile Here.

Magnet releasing recently acquired Us rights to the movie which is sold by HanWay.

The film is based on Hiroaki Samura’s long-running manga of the same name about a warrior enlisted by a young girl to avenge her parents’ slaughter by master swordsmen.

Takuya Kimura stars alongside newcomer Hana Sugisaki, Sôta Fukushi, Ebizô Ichikawa, and veterans of the screen Min Tanaka, and Tsutomu Yamazaki.

Tetsuya Oishi wrote the screenplay and producers are Jeremy Thomas, Misako Saka, and Shigeji Maeda, in association with Warner Bros Japan.

Read more:

Takashi Miike talks ‘Blade Of The Immortal’ and Cannes

The latest Cannes news, reviews and features...

Samurai epic plays out of competition in Cannes. HanWay handles international sales.

The genre arm of Magnolia Pictures has acquired North American rights to Takashi Miike’s Cannes official selection Blade Of The Immortal.

The film will play out of competition and is based on Hiroaki Samura’s long-running manga of the same name. Magnet plans to release the film later this year.

Blade Of The Immortal follows a warrior enlisted by a young girl to avenge her parents’ slaughter by master swordsmen.

Takuya Kimura stars alongside newcomer Hana Sugisaki, Sôta Fukushi, Ebizô Ichikawa, and veterans of the screen Min Tanaka, and Tsutomu Yamazaki.

Tetsuya Oishi wrote the screenplay and producers are Jeremy Thomas, Misako Saka, and Shigeji Maeda, in association with Warner Bros Japan.

Magnolia / Magnet also have rights to two more films in Cannes: Arnaud Desplechin’s festival opener Ismael’s Ghosts, and Ruben Östlund’s Palme d’Or contender The Square.

“We’ve been...

Keep up with the wild and wooly world of indie film acquisitions with our weekly Rundown of everything that’s been picked up around the globe. Check out last week’s Rundown here.

– IFC Films has acquired the U.S rights to director Jamie M. Dagg’s thriller “Sweet Virginia,” starring Jon Bernthal, Christopher Abbott, Imogen Poots, Rosemarie DeWitt and Odessa Young. The film, which premiered at the recent Tribeca Film Festival, was written by Ben and Paul China from their Black List script, and was produced by Brian Kavanaugh-Jones for Automatik, Chris Ferguson for Oddfellows and Fernando Loureiro and Roberto Vasconcellos for Exhibit, who also financed.

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Xyz Films is currently handling international sales and will screen the film at the upcoming Marché du Film at Cannes. “Sweet Virginia” is a riveting thriller that...

For over two decades, director Takashi Miike has garnered equal parts acclaim and controversy for his films due to their violent, often disturbing content. In recent years, Miike has become especially prolific, often directing one or two films per year. Next year, he will release his new action film “Blade of the Immortal,” about a warrior cursed with immortality who cannot free himself unless he kills 1,000 evil men. Based on the manga by the same name, the film stars Hana Sugisaki, Ebizô Ichikawa, Sôta Fukushi, Hayato Ichihara, Erika Toda, Kazuki Kitamura, Min Tanaka, Takuya Kimura and Tsutomu Yamazaki. Watch a very brief teaser trailer below.

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Miike first garnered international fame with his 1999 romantic horror film “Audition,” about a widower who auditions women to become his next wife only for one to turn the tables on him.

More Miike! A very, very brief teaser trailer has debuted for the latest Takashi Miike film, an adaptation of a manga about an immortal samurai. Blade of the Immortal, originally Mugen no jûnin in Japanese, is about a samurai who has to kill 1000 evil men in order to regain his mortality. Starring Hana Sugisaki, Ebizô Ichikawa, Sôta Fukushi, Hayato Ichihara, Erika Toda, Kazuki Kitamura, Min Tanaka, Takuya Kimura and Tsutomu Yamazaki. Based on the concept (and final shot in this) alone, it reminds me of 13 Assassins, which is one of Miike's best action movies. I wish there was more to see, but I'm sure we'll get more trailers before April. No Us release is set yet, but hopefully it'll be out in 2017 in the Us, too. Here's the first brief teaser trailer (+ poster) for Takashi Miike's Blade of the Immortal, from YouTube: Blade of the Immortal is about "an...