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Last Live-Action Rurouni Kenshin Film Revists His Past in Trailer

The streamed "Rurouni Kenshin Saishūshō The Beginning 10th Anniversary Event" debuted the full trailer for the film, the second of two 'final chapter' installments in the live-action film series based on Nobuhiro Watsuki's Rurouni Kenshin manga, on Monday. The trailer features the film's theme song, which is once again performed by the rock band ONE OK ROCK.

Rurouni Kenshin Saishūshō The Beginning will open on June 4. Rurouni Kenshin Saishūshō The Final, the first of the two films, opened on April 23. The film ranked at #2 and earned 745 million yen (about US$6.9 million) in its opening weekend. As of May 9, the film has earned a cumulative total of 2,318,372,990 yen (about US$21.27 million).

The films were originally slated to open on July 3 and August 7 last year, but were delayed to this year due the ongoing new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The first film will screen with a commentary audio track via a smartphone app beginning on May 22, while the second film will screen with commentary beginning on June 19.

Rurouni Kenshin Saishūshō The Final has an original story that differs from the story in the manga. The first film centers on the story from the manga's "Jinchū" arc, which features Kenshin's conflict with the mysterious weapons dealer Enishi. Rurouni Kenshin Saishūshō The Beginning tells the story of how Kenshin got his cross-shaped scar. Kasumi Arimura plays the character Tomoe Yukishiro in the films. Tomoe was Kenshin's wife during his days as the assassin Battōsai, and her story ties into Kenshin's iconic X-shaped scar. Kenshin and Tomoe's relationship was previously portrayed in the Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal original video anime (OVA) project.

Keishi Ōtomo returns to direct the films. The rock band ONE OK ROCK returns to perform the theme song "Renegade" for the films.

Update: Embedded trailers fixed. Thanks, Daniel Zelter.

Sources: Rurouni Kenshin: The Final films' website, Comic Natalie