entertainment

Kimutaku to star in 'Blade of the Immortal' live-action film directed by Takashi Miike

11 Comments
By Oona McGee, RocketNews24

When one of Japan’s most controversial directors teams up with one of its sexiest actors to make a film about the manga world’s most cursed samurai, the ripples of excitement that usually surround a live-action movie announcement turn into a veritable tidal wave.

The upcoming film adaptation of Hiroaki Samura’s manga "Blade of the Immortal" is set to be one of the most anticipated films of 2017. Until then, fans of the original manga series will have to wait to see what lies in store when 42-year-old SMAP group member and heart-throb actor Kimutaku (Takuya Kimura) takes on the role of a masterless samurai living in an immortal body.

"Blade of the Immortal," known in Japan as "Mugen no Junin" (Inhabitant of Infinity) is set in the middle of Japan’s Tokugawa Shogunate period (1603–1868) and follows the story of Manji, a cursed rōnin warrior on a mission to kill 1,000 evil men in order to regain his mortality. While the manga was adapted into a TV anime series in 2008, the upcoming live-action movie will be the first time real-life actors breathe life into the dark characters of the series.

Kimura is one of the country’s most well-known celebrities, and is not especially known for having a dark side. He’s been a member of boy band SMAP for 27 years, a leading man in dozens of TV dramas and the star of a number of movies. As far as period films go, this will be Kimutaku’s first since 2006’s "Love and Honor," directed by Yoji Yamada.

Takashi Miike, on the other hand, is right at home when it comes to telling dark stories. While Miike’s "Visitor Q" is shocking for its bizarre storyline and disturbing, sexually twisted scenes, his 2001 movie adaptation of the manga "Ichi the Killer" was so gory that audiences at the Toronto International Film Festival received promotional barf bags to accompany the film. More recently, his instalment in the "Masters of Horror" television series was deemed so disturbing it was removed from the broadcast lineup.

Miike personally selected Kimutaku to star as Manji so it will be interesting to see what type of live-action film springs forth from the unlikely partnership. With Japan’s golden boy playing a cursed samurai under the guidance of Miike, the master of gore, this is one film we can’t wait to see.

Source: Comic Natalie

Read more stories from RocketNews24. -- Yakuza-Vampire movie, Yakuza Apocalypse, release date set -- New Juon/The Grudge horror film announced with Nozomi Sasaki -- Terra Formars live-action movie in the works, Takashi Miike to direct

© Japan Today

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.


11 Comments
Login to comment

Kimutaku? But he is almost a woman. How can he play that? The most memorable pictures in his photo collection are the ones of him in drag.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Hope they weren't expecting this to be a hit anywhere outside of Japan, because if Kimtaku's in it those chances are out the window. I don't hate the guy by any means, he's just been too recycled to be believable, and his acting is rather poor to begin with.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

He's pretty popular in China and Korea too, so it could end up being popular in those countries as well.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Should be spelled Kimoitaku. No idea where his popularity comes from, all the women Ive talked with cant stand the guy and he has the reputation of being a douche. Takeshi Miike also needs to make a good movie again, his latest movies have been boring.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

He is the only member of SMAP who can actually sing. I'll give that to him (although given the other members, the bar is pretty low). Does he sing in the movie?

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

The whole entertainment industry here is this incestual orgy of only Johnny's members appearing in everything and they just rotate who gets what every month.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

I love the manga (and all of Hiroaki Samura's manga), and I love Takashi Miike, but I'm a little on the fence about how this SMAP dude will do as Manji. I would have loved to see Tadanobu Asano, as he can play some fairly intense folks. (and has worked with Miike before to good results)

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I'm a big fan of SOME of Johnny's groups but not SMAP and as for acting he can do a fairly okay job (Mr Brain, had to play wacky and did a good job). But for something like this there were plenty of other actors that not only look good/cool, but can also ACT, which is pretty important to someone of this characters league. It might turn out like Attack of Titans, okay but nothing as good as the original story.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Miike's flicks are twisted sick. He has been well known stateside for some time.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Kusanagi is the best actor. He once portrayed a drunken naked man and did a very convincing performance.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

This could an interesting way for kimutaku to show a new style and break a 'too clean" carreer. His acting in "come in the rain" may come in handy here. I remember a man with a great intensity in pain, especially the physical and emotional.

Let's hope it not too gore. That it willl be made with descency and a bit of elegance. Too gore would break any chance to go outside asia. Japan and corea do tend to forget that true violence is only for "special" teeneger for us.

Kimutaku need cleary to go forward toward an adult audience if he want to go to world that lack asian actor. His main problem, i think is a tendency too strange insular choice.

Souhaitons lui "bonne chance" pardon "good luck".

Athena de France

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites