City Hunter, a Japanese live-action adaptation of the legendary, best-selling manga of the same name, is set for release in 2024 on Netflix.
Ryohei Suzuki (Tokyo MER, Segodon) is confirmed to take the lead role of Ryo Saeba.
Excited to work on City Hunter, the prized actor looks forward to the project.
“I am thrilled to be playing Ryo Saeba and feel a great deal of responsibility to portray this beloved, legendary character created by Tsukasa Hojo. I cannot wait for both existing fans as well as newcomers around the world to fall in love with Ryo Saeba and his fun, action-packed adventures around modern-day Tokyo. We aim to strike the right balance between realism and fantasy, as well as tones from the 80s and today.”
Meanwhile, Misato Morita (The Naked Director) will take the role of Kaori Makimura.
The actress relays how she has been captivated by Kaori’s charm.
“For decades, City Hunter has been infused with the love of countless many. To be able to stand in the shoes of someone as beloved as Kaori Makimura makes me nervous, but also gives me the greatest joy. Kaori is hardworking, vigorous, loving, and charming. The more I gaze into her heart, the more I find myself captivated by her charm. I intend to pour everything I have into playing Kaori so that I can touch even a small fragment of what makes her so special in the fans’ hearts.”
Yuichi Sato (Kisaragi, Strawberry Nights and The End of the Tiny World) is in charge of directing.
The film adaptation of City Hunter takes a modern-day updated version of the manga, set in the bustling streets of Shinjuku. When Ryo’s partner Makimura is killed, he and Makimura’s sister Kaori team up to find out the truth, thus forming a new duo.
Successfully melting elements of comedy, action and romance, City Hunter has been captivating fans around the world since its initial release, with the newly announced film expanding the franchise with stories about the beloved characters that have yet to be told.
The legendary manga City Hunter was first serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from 1985 to 1989, with a total circulation of over 50 million copies and release around the globe. An anime series based on the manga first aired in 1987 and remained popular until its last special broadcast in 1999.
Tsukasa Hojo, the original creator of the manga poured his confidence and looks forward to the completed film version of the manga.
“After about 10 years since the project came about, we’ve finally started rolling! I always hoped the lead would be played by someone who really liked City Hunter and thanks to Ryohei’s unwavering passion, the time has finally come. I was invited to visit the set where it seemed like everybody was having a great time on this wonderful shoot, with attention paid to every detail. Thanks to the dedicated cast and crew, I’m looking forward to the title being brought to screen, with a fresh and realistic perspective that isn’t strictly bound to the original manga.”
PR Source: Netflix
