See which are the main Japanese works that will be adapted into live-action productions for the small and big screens in the coming years
It’s no secret that the world of live-action adaptations is expanding. After all, in recent decades, million-dollar productions have hit theaters, transforming characters that were introduced in the pages of books, magazines and comics into figures that star in stories on the big screen.
Among the main examples are Disney’s adaptations of fairy tales, since, in addition to animations, the century-old studio has already brought real actresses to life princesses such as Cinderella, Belle, Ariel and even Snow White, who in 2025 will have Rachel Zegler in the skin of the princess saved by a kiss of true love.
In addition to these, there are also films from the Marvel Cinematic Multiverse that address narratives that already exist in the House of Ideas’ comics, featuring heroes such as Captain America, Iron Man, Spider-Man and villains such as Ultron, Thanos and Kang in intertwining plots.
But anyone who thinks that this practice is limited to Western productions is mistaken, since Eastern works have also gained strength in this market, such as “One Piece”, a manga created by Eiichiro Oda during the 1990s, which gained an anime and, in 2023, a successful live-action series on Netflix, which was even renewed for a second season.
With this in mind, RECREIO has put together a list of 5 upcoming live-action films that address plots previously seen in manga and anime. Check it out:
NARUTO
Masashi Kishimoto was the one who created “Naruto”, a manga published from 1999 to 2014 in Japan, which follows the title character, who had the nine-tailed fox sealed in his belly on a mission to perfect his skills as a ninja and become the next Hokage, that is, the ninja leader of Konoha, also known as the Leaf Village, the place where he lives.
The live-action was announced in 2015 and, since then, it has only been confirmed that the title will be produced by Lionsgate and will have the script and direction signed by Destin Crettonfilmmaker who directed “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”.
ONE PUNCH MAN
“One Punch Man” has been published since 2009, and was adapted into an anime in 2015. The live-action version does not yet have a release date, but it is known that the script, which was previously in production by the duo Scott Rosenberg It is Jeff Pinknerfrom “Venom”, is now in the hands of Dan Harmon It is Heather Anne-Campbellcreators of “Rick & Morty”.
More than that, the plot that presents Saitama, a superhero whose strength is so great that he can defeat any enemy with a single punch and searches for opponents who can fight equally against him, will be led by Justin Lin (Fast and Furious 9).
SPEED RACER
Following the young and talented driver who gives the title to the 1960s manga and anime, “Speed Racer” already has a live-action version, released in 2008, and commanded by the sisters Lana It is Lilly Wachowskithat presents Emile Hirsch (Into the Wild) in the shoes of the protagonist who ventures into the world of car racing.
The new version will come in series format, which will be released in the Apple TV+ catalog. Produced by JJ Abrams (Star Trek), the title does not yet have a release date.
DEATH NOTE
Created by Tsugumi Ohba It is Takeshi Obata“Death Note” began as a manga and was turned into an anime in the mid-2000s, following Light Yagami, a student who finds a notebook that allows its bearer to kill anyone simply by writing the target’s name on the pages.
The title has gained several live-action versions, the most accepted being those produced in the country of origin of the story, and released between 2006 and 2008, and the most criticized being the one produced by Netflix in 2017. However, a new version with real actors is being planned and will feature the brothers Matt It is Ross Duffercreators of the Netflix series “Stranger Things,” as directors. The adaptation will be made by the duo’s production company, Upside Down Pictures.
MY HERO ACADEMY
In Kōhei Horikoshi“My Hero Academia” follows Izuku Midoriya, a young man without powers who lives in a world where almost everyone has superhuman abilities, and because he is different, he ends up suffering a lot before having the opportunity to transform his life after helping an injured superhero.
The story, which was also turned into an anime, will gain a live-action that will have Joby Harold (Obi-Wan Kenobi), as screenwriter; and Shinsuke Sato (Alice in Borderland) as director to follow Midoriya’s heroic journey.
Source: Recreio
