LAST SAMURAI STANDING: The Battle Royale Begins In November. Watch The New Teaser!
Junichi Okada (The Fable 1 & 2, Hard Days) stars, produces, and action-directs on the new 6-part survival thriller!
junichi okada
LAST SAMURAI STANDING Debuts First Look At Junichi Okada And Cast Of New Netflix Action Series
The new historical action drama series premieres in November, only on Netflix.
LAST SAMURAI STANDING Reteams ‘Hard Days’ Star And Director For New Netflix Japan Samurai Drama
Production is underway on new Netflix series Last Samurai Standing. The film reteams actor Junichi Okada and director Michihito Fujii for their latest pairing since Hard Days, last year’s Japan revamp of hit Korean crime thriller, A Hard Day. Last Samurai Standing is adapted from Naoki Prize-winning author Shogo Imamura’s ongoing manga, “Ikusagami.” Set in the late 19th century during the Meiji period, the series centers on Shujiro Saga (Okada), who sets out to save his ailing wife and child as one of 292 skilled warriors gathered at Tenryuji Temple to compete in a deadly game to win a grand prize of 100 billion yen. Okada, whose select credits include films like manga adaptations The Fable and The Fable: The Killer Who Doesn’t Kill, as well as Baragaki: Unbroken Samurai, Sekigahara and Hell Dogs, will also serve as producer on Last Samurai Standing, as well as action choreographer. “When Netflix […]
Trailer: HARD DAYS Are Headed For Junichi Okada’s Newest Action Thriller On Netflix!
The Fable franchise and Hell Dogs star Junichi Okada is back for another round of action and thrills headed to Netflix with Hard Days, from director Michihito Fujii and also starring Go Ayano. Fujii directed the script which he wrote with Kenya Hirata, reviving the hit 2014 action thriller directed by Kim Sung-hoon, and following suit from other remakes by Lien Yi-Chi and Lawrence Fajado in 2017. For this, we get Okada back on screen this time for the role of an unscrupulous detective whose life begins to unravel after going to extremes to cover up an accidental killing, only to be hounded by a mysterious figure who claims to know his secret. Toho previously released Hard Days in Japan back in May while Netflix is making its case with a new trailer as of Wednesday to head up the film’s launch on November 30.
HARD DAYS Trailer: Let The Mudslinging And Fireworks Begin!
Still on deck for this year is crime thriller Hard Days, starring Junichi Okada and Go Ayano for its release on May 19. The official trailer is up for the flick which comes nearly a decade after Kim Sung-hoon’s original flick and remakes that followed thereafter. On the night of December 29, Detective Yuji Kudo drives his car to see his mother, who is hospitalized with a serious health condition. He receives a phone call from the station police chief asking about his involvement in the creation of a slush fund. He also learns that his mother has passed away. Yuji then accidentally hits a man with his car and that man dies. At the hospital, Yuji tries to cover up the death of the man he hit with his car by placing his dead body into his mother’s casket. At that time, he receives a text message from Police […]
HARD DAYS Featurette Reveals Junichi Okada And Go Ayano On Set Of ‘A Hard Day’ Remake
You can currently look up director Michihito Fujii’s most recent crime drama, A Family (locally known as Yakuza And The Family) on Netflix in the U.S. to get a feel of his directorial style if you haven’t seen any of his previous work. Up next to release is his newest drama, Village, while the latest updates are online for Hard Days, which is due for May 19, 2023 release from Toho. The film is based on the 2014 crime thriller, A Hard Day, from Kim Sung-hoon who went on to direct titles like Tunnel and Netflix’s “Kingdom”. Taking the reins for the remake is a cast that lists Junichi Okada (The Fable, Hell Dogs) and Go Ayano (A Family, Homunculus), in a retelling of a corrupt cop whose misdeeds catch up with him after a fatal accident. You’re more than welcome to parse through any of the current digital services […]
HELL DOGS: Don’t Miss The Latest Promos For The Yakuza Crime Thriller Adaptation Starring Junichi Okada
Less than a month away from its Japan release is the long-awaited gangster crime thriller, Hell Dogs, starring Junichi Okada and Kentarô Sakaguchi. Toei and Sony Pictures Japan are handling its distribution, which means we should see the film’s release outside the region at some point. Based on Akio Fukamachi’s 2017 novel, Okada stars as Shogo, a cop who, while still recovering from the trauma of his girlfriend’s murder, is assigned to go undercover and investigate the Yakuza, using a loose-cannon gangster named Hideki with whom he apparently shares a 98% match in his personality profile. Harada also adapted the novel marking his third and latest film with Okada following Sekigahara and Baragaki: Unbroken Samurai, and with featured action sequences by Okada himself. Also starring are Mayu Matsuoka, Miyavi, Kazuki Kitamura, Shinobu Otake, Satoshi Kanada, Mai Kiryu, Arisa Nakajima, Kyoko, Yasumasa Ohba, Mitsuo Yoshihara, Ukon Onoe, Mio Tanaka, Jun Murakami […]
HELL DOGS Take A Bite Out Of The Yakuza Underworld In The First Teaser
I haven’t seen Sekigahara or Baragaki: Unbroken Samurai yet, or any of director Masato Harada’s films safe for his screen appearances in The Last Samurai and Jet Li’s Fearless. To that end, it’s no easy thing to mull over how he’s been discussed in recent local Japanese media reports regarding his on-set demeanor, and for better understanding, you’re invited to catch up with actor Yuki Matsuzaki’s own tweet threads discussing it and forging your own opinions from there. It’s a bit brutal given all else that’s been reported. So to say the least, the better focus here lies on how fond I am of actor Junichi Okada who’s done nothing but deliver the goods in recent memory, with the addition of the aforementioned films and lately with Kan Eguchi’s lean and mean action comedy manga adaptations of The Fable which are currently on Netflix. Okada’s return to the screen now […]
Netflix Acquires THE FABLE And THE FABLE: THE KILLER WHO DOESN’T KILL For November Releases!
Ever had one of those days where you were sifting through Netflix and surely enough you came across something you were bound to be interested in only before you kept scrolling? Yeah…me too. Only, I can affirm you that this won’t be the case with Kan Eguchi’s 2019 action comedy adaptation, The Fable, which I reviewed that year for its NYAFF premiere. The same goes for its most recent sequel which I also reviewed and well… the rest is history. As much as I and others have been jib-jabbin’ away about these back-to-back hit films and wondering just when the rest of the world would see them, it turns out that Netflix has acquired and listed BOTH titles on its Coming Soon tab with a date set for November 17! The Fable is based on Katsuhisa Minami’s 2014 manga of the same name and stars Junichi Okada as an infamous […]
NYAFF XX Review: Kan Eguchi’s THE FABLE: THE KILLER WHO DOESN’T KILL, A Taut, Tactful Killer Comedy Sequel
Kan Eguchi’s award-winning 2019 hitman comedy, The Fable, proved to be every bit as enjoyable as one could hope, and from the looks of things as of late, I would say this is turning more and more into an upstanding action franchise that it deserves to be. The latest sequel treatment from Eguchi’s resumè now arrives as The Fable: The Killer Who Doesn’t Kill, which is now making the festival rounds after finally releasing in Japan in June following multiple theatrical release delays, and it sees the return of actor Junichi Okada (Sekigahara, Baragaki: Unbroken Samurai), fittingly back in the title role and wearing more than one hat on set this time around. The opening setup kicks off our new story four years earlier, when our titular anti-hero was busy laying waste to a whole hit-list of unsavory types. Bodies basically dropping like flies with no one the wiser as […]
New BARAGAKI: UNBROKEN SAMURAI Trailers Unsheathe Online Ahead Of October Release
It’s taken two years and a global pandemic since the earliest promos began making the rounds for Masato Harada’s Baragaki: Unbroken Samurai, though now the period sword drama has an October 15 date set for its release in Japan from Toho and Asmik Ace. Harada, best known for playing the loathesome villain role in films such as The Last Samurai and Jet Li starrer, Fearless, reunites at the helm with The Fable star Junichi Okada since wrapping 17th century war epic, Sekigahara (2017), which scored 2.4 billion yen at the box office. Baragaki: Unbroken Samurai takes its cues from Shiba Ryotaro’s 1964 Shukan Bunshun publication, centered on the wartime chronicles of Hijikata Toshizo, the Shinsengumi vice-commander who led the shogunate forces against the imperialist Meiji government during the Boshin War. Epic period drama based on Shiba Ryotaro’s historical novel, helmed and scripted by Harada Masato of Sekigahara and KAKEKOMI. Vividly depicts Shinsengumi vice commander Hijikata Toshizo’s life spanning […]
THE FABLE: A CONTRACT KILLER WHO DOESN’T KILL Gets Its Groove Back In The Newest Trailer
It’s right about that time for Shochiku to help turn the lights back on for its theatrical release plans this year, namely for long-awaited action comedy sequel, The Fable: A Contract Killer Who Doesn’t Kill. A June 18 release is now in tow as of early last month following a delay of its planned February release due to the ongoing pandemic. That the good folks over at Shochiku are moving along is a positive sign that things are progressing, and for this, the Kan Eguchi-directed live-action manga follow-up won’t be the only Junichi Okada starrer rolling out this year for the actor. Reprising her role as Yoko from the 2019 inaugural is Fumino Kimura, next to Okada’s titular portrayal of Akira – a known legend in the underworld as an elusive and deadly assassin, then forced into hiding by his employer and advised never to kill. The sequel sees Akira […]
THE FABLE: CHAPTER TWO Scores An Official Title And Explosive Trailer For Kan Eguchi’s Latest!
And there it is! Thus titled The Fable: A Hitman Who Doesn’t Kill, Kan Eguchi reclaims directing duties for the sequel following last year’s inaugural hit action comedy, with actor Junichi Okada reprising his role. The first official trailer is out courtesy of Shochiku, teasing a story ripe with goofy comedy AND high stakes action and danger all based on the hit manga publication of the same name. Per my previous report: For the sequel, Okada rejoins director Kan Eguchi, and actress Fumino Kimura who plays Akira’s partner, Yoko, in a story that sees Akira forced back into action when the design company where he shares part time employment under CEO Takoda (Jiro Sato) and with co-worker Misaki (Mizuki Yamamoto), is targeted by a dubious non-profit mogul and urban developer named Utsubo (Shinichi Tsutsumi) and his killer for hire, Suzuki (Masanobu Ando). Actress Yurina Hirate is also a new addition […]
THE FABLE: CHAPTER TWO Returns Junichi Okada Back To Legendary Action Comedy Thrills This February!
Coming in as a delightful surprise to anyone who can’t read Japanese entertainment periodicals but nonetheless tries to follow along, a sequel is currently on the way with The Fable: Chapter Two, following last year’s inaugural hit action comedy based on Katsuhisa Minami’s 2014 manga. Adapted for the screen by Yusuke Watanabe (Joker Game, Gatchman) with action direction by the Jackie Chan stunt team, The Fable follows Akira (Okada), a legendary underworld hitman who, despite being assigned by his boss to hide in a small village under an alias, finds himself challenged to do so when faced with Yakuza thugs, and an expert killer chasing his own glory. The film made the festival rounds and ultimately landed at the 18th New York Asian Film Festival, which allowed me an opportunity to write a review you can check out here. For the sequel, Okada rejoins director Kan Eguchi, and actress Fumino […]
BARAGAKI: UNBROKEN SAMURAI Trailer Teases A Dauntless Sword Epic
There’s loads of love and fondness from fans keen on actor Junichi Okada, even some who share a preference to see him in serious action roles. His most recent festival delight, manga adaptation The Fable, was a grand feast of action and comedy during 2019 hitherto its release in Japan, and you’re welcome to read my thoughts about it here, at my NYAFF review for the film. For now, we have Baragaki: Unbroken Samurai to continue onward with as we approach the new year. Masato Harada, best known for playing the loathesome villain role in films such as The Last Samurai and Jet Li’s Fearless, adds to his prominent, decades-long career at the helm, reuniting with Okada since wrapping 17th century war epic, Sekigahara, which scored 2.4 billion yen at the box office. Opening on May 22, Baragaki: Unbroken Samurai takes its cues from Shiba Ryotaro’s 1964 Shukan Bunshun publication, […]
NYAFF Review: Kan Eguchi’s THE FABLE Lives Up To Its Name With Stellar Action And Comedic Gusto
A formidable highlight for this year’s festival circuit, Kan Eguchi’s action comedy, The Fable, delivers a steady balance of the silly with purposeful action, story development, and palpable drama to boot. Clocking in at two hours and some change, it’s a sizeable enough template with actor Junichi Okada to absorb himself into a role layered enough to keep interesting during the film’s quieter moments. Some action fans might take umbrage some at this given much of the oddball comedy sampled in the trailers thusfar; I do posit that a good, fair viewing would defintiely change some opinions for what the film delivers during its runtime. Concordantly, you get a performance from Okada that further stipulates his gravitas as an actor – particularly one who happens to be skilled in martial arts himself, and it definitely shows. Eguchi’s The Fable takes its cues from Katsuhisa Minami’s 2014 manga of the same […]
THE FABLE: Meet Your Weird Assassin Neighbor Next Door In The New Special Trailer
Japan audiences are less than a week from the premiere of Gachi Boshi helmer Kan Eguchi’s new film, The Fable, and the campaign has been pretty amply paced thusfar since rolling out its initial teasers last December. Nippon TV launched sales in Hong Kong earlier this year, based on Katsuhisa Minami’s Weekly Young Magazine publication since 2014 and features Samurai’s Promise and Library Wars franchise star Junichi Okada. Your slightly offbeat neighbor might actually be an assassin on vacation. As his nickname implies, the Fable is an enigmatic assassin who terrorizes the underworld. The overworked assassin gets an order from his boss. “Live the life of a normal man for one year. Kill anyone during your vacation and I kill you.” In incognito, the Fable is given the name, “Akira Sato” and his partner is “Yoko.” They start their new lives as a regular brother and sister with a pet […]
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