Buried in all the terrible goings-on of news in the world in the last few weeks, at least one gem came to pass and just recently made my way with word that a sequel has been greenlit to follow-up Bleach helmer Shinsuke Sato’s hit manga adaptation, Kingdom.
The official website presented an illustration from Kingdom creator, mangaka Yasuhisa Hara, to signal the sequel, formalizing the return of actors Kento Yamazaki and Ryō Yoshizawa, and actress Kanna Hashimoto to reprise their roles. Indeed, Sato himself, whose work I’ve enjoyed since The Princess Blade with Yumiko Shaku years ago, will return to the helm.
Sequel details are pending, although those who are more apt to the franchise may have an idea for what may come after Sato’s intricate and sweeping Warring States Period story, about a young war orphan destined to become a hero following the death of his best friend.
Designed with grand scale excellence with action sequences by Yuji Shimomura, and host to a riveting title track by One OK Rock, the first film instantly became one of my own most anticipated titles in 2018, as the film itself took shape following an anniversary trailer for the manga. The film also starred Masami Nagasawa, Kanata Hongo, Shinnosuke Mitsushima, Masahiro Takashima, and Jun Kaname, with an explosive cameo by Takao Osawa, and a rip-roaring performance by Tak Sakaguchi as one of the main villains.
Funimation picked up the film for North American release last year after the film became a theatrical hit in Japan earining ¥5.47 billion at the box office for Toho. The film also screened for Fantasia XXIII among its festival stops, and you can read my review here.
＼ ついに‼️待望の‼️‼️ ／
◤ 映画『#キングダム』 ◥
◣ ⚔️続編製作決定⚔️ ◢#山﨑賢人 さんをはじめ #吉沢亮 さん、#橋本環奈 さんら豪華キャスト陣が再集結！気になるストーリーや新キャストは…
続報をお楽しみに💥中華統一への物語は続くーーー pic.twitter.com/qlEd1uE3y1
— 映画『キングダム』公式アカウント (@kingdomthemovie) May 28, 2020
