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Live-Action Kingdom Film Unveils Cast, Director, April 19 Opening
posted on by Rafael Antonio Pineda
The staff of the live-action film of Yasuhisa Hara's Kingdom manga revealed the film's main cast, director, and April 19, 2019 opening date on Tuesday. The cast features Kento Yamazaki 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)
Shinsuke Satō (live-action Gantz, Death Note Light up the NEW world, Bleach) is directing the film. Sony Pictures Japan is producing the film. Filming for the movie began in China earlier this year in April.
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 will publish the 51st volume (seen right) on July 19, and will ship 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 already inspired a 3-minute live-action short starring Yamazaki to celebrate the manga's 10th anniversary in 2016:
Full Short With Narration
Full Short Without Narration
The short was filmed at Hengdian World Studios in China. Other cast members include Chihiro Yamamoto as Qiang Hui (Kyō Kai) and Kenji Gojō as Pang Nuan (Hōken). Kōichi Yoshinaga narrated the short. Hiroki Ono directed the video, Thomas Suess produced the music, and Robster Henke composed the music.
Source: The Mainichi Shimbun's Mantan Web
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