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Rurouni Kenshin Gets 'Final' 2 Live-Action Films in Summer 2020
posted on by Alex Mateo
Warner Bros. Japan announced on Friday that two new live-action film adaptations of Nobuhiro Watsuki's Rurouni Kenshin manga will premiere in summer 2020. The adaptations mark the final chapter of the live-action film series. The first part covers Jūji Kizu no Nazo (Mystery of the Cross-Shaped Scar), and the second part is Saikyō no Teki・Enishi (Most Terrifying Enemy - Enishi). Warner Bros. Japan opened a website for the films.
Takeru Satoh is reprising his role as Kenshin Himura, and Keishi Ōtomo is returning to direct the films.
A report about actress Emi Takei, who plays Kaoru Kamiya in the films, had revealed in September 2017 that a new live-action film adaptation of Rurouni Kenshin was planned.
The first live-action Rurouni Kenshin film opened in 2012 in Japan, while the first two sequels opened in August and September 2014. The films collectively grossed more that US$160 million internationally. Funimation screened all three films in United States theaters in August, September, and October 2016, respectively.
The films adapt Nobuhiro Watsuki's manga, which ran from 1994 to 1999 in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine. An anime series aired in Japan from 1996 to 1998 and spawned several anime video projects and an anime film. Viz Media published the original manga and the two-volume Rurouni Kenshin: Restoration reboot manga in North America, while Media Blasters released the television anime. ADV Films released the two Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal and Rurouni Kenshin: Reflection video anime projects and the Rurouni Kenshin: The Motion Picture anime film on DVD, and Aniplex later released these three titles on Blu-ray Disc. Sentai Filmworks released the more recent Rurouni Kenshin: New Kyoto Arc video anime series on Blu-ray Disc and DVD.
Sources: Rurouni Kenshin live-action film's website, Warner Bros. Japan's Twitter account, Comic Natalie
Update: Takeru Satō's spelling corrected. Thanks, Watanabefan.
Update 2: The Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal and Rurouni Kenshin: Reflection video anime projects also adapted the same final arc from the manga as the upcoming two live-action films will.
Update 3: Nazo typo corrected. Thanks, crosswithyou.
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