News
Live-Action Kingdom Film's Subtitled Promo Teases N. American Release
posted on by Rafael Antonio Pineda
TOHO began streaming a new English-subtitled international promotional video for the live-action film of Yasuhisa Hara's Kingdom manga on Wednesday. The video features previously unseen footage and English narration, and debuted at Austin's SXSW festival on Tuesday.
To promote a possible North American opening of the film, lead actor Kento Yamazaki paid a courtesy call to Laine Kline, Executive Vice President Business Affairs, Operations & Head of International Production for Sony Pictures International Productions at Sony Pictures' headquarters.
Shinsuke Satō (live-action Gantz, Death Note Light up the NEW world, Bleach) is directing the film, which will open on April 19. Sony Pictures Japan is producing the film. Filming for the movie began in China in April 2018. ONE OK ROCK is performing the theme song "Wasted Nights" for the film.
Kento Yamazaki is reprising his role as protagonist Shin (Xin) from the manga's earlier live-action short. The other cast members include:
- Ryō Yoshizawa as Ei Sei (Yin Zheng)
- Masami Nagasawa as Yō Tanwa (Yang Duan He)
- Kanna Hashimoto as Ka Ryō Ten (He Liao Diao)
- Takao Osawa as Ō Ki (Wang Qi)
- Kanata Hongō as Sei Kyō (Cheng Jiao)
- Shinnosuke Mitsushima as Heki (Bi)
- Masahiro Takashima as Shō Bun Kun (Chang Wen Jun)
- Jun Kaname as Tō (Teng)
Hara's historical manga centers around the slave boy Xin and his dream of becoming a great general for the state of Qin. Xin helps Ying Zheng, the young Qin king who shares his desire to unify China, rise to power within the state. Xin does all he can to become a superior commander of an army capable of defeating the Seven Warring States.
The record-setting manga launched in Shueisha's Weekly Young Jump magazine in 2006. Shueisha published the 52nd volume on October 19. Hara said he is considering writing up to 100 volumes. A television anime adaptation premiered in 2012, and a second season premiered in 2013. Funimation streamed the series in North America and released both anime on DVD in 2016.
The manga previously inspired a three-minute live-action short starring Yamazaki to celebrate the manga's 10th anniversary in 2016.
Source: TOHO YouTube channel, Comic Natalie
this article has been modified since it was originally posted; see change history