THE QUEEN OF VILLAINS Teaser Reveals Yuriyan Retriever’s Anti-Heroic Rise To The Throne!
The Queen of Villains unveils the untold story of Dump Matsumoto, a professional wrestler who ignited a boom in women’s wrestling in the 1980s with her cult-like following. Unlike the iconic “Crush Gals” duo, Chigusa Nagayo and Lioness Asuka, Matsumoto made her mark as the most famous heel. Dominating television screens, they became a cultural phenomenon, captivating Japan.
That’s the wind up and the pitch that now comes in hand with the first teaser for period wrestling series drama, The Queen Of Villains. The five-part series is supervized by Kazuya Shiraishi from a script Junya Ikegami, and Osamu Suzuki who also developed and produced the series. Shiraishi directed the first three episodes with the latter two from director Katsuhito Mogi.
The Queen of Villains stars Yuriyan Retriever, Erika Karata, Ayame Goriki, Ebi-chan (of comedy duo Marie Marie), Kyoka Sumida, Elina Mizuno, Ryoka Neya, Eri Kamataki, Urara Aryu, Momoko Hori, Sayaka Tobe, Hitomi Kamoshida, Haruka Imou, Nobuko Sendo, Takamitsu Nonaka, Marin Nishimoto, Tomu Miyazaki, Michie Shigeki Kiyono, Akapen Takigawa, Takuma Otoo, Daisuke Kuroda, Takumi Saitoh, and Jun Murakami. The show launches on September 19 on Netflix.
The first official teaser is now here as of Tuesday, and you have to admire the almost Joker-like influence this teaser is giving. It’s right there, and speaks ardently to the influence of today’s anti-hero comic book allure and how Shiraishi seemingly applies it to our protagonist.
Read on for more and catch the teaser and poster!
Based on real pro wrestlers and events, The Queen of Villains is set to unveil the untold story of Dump Matsumoto on September 19, and the teaser released today offers a glimpse into this semi-autobiographical coming-of-age drama. Set in the 1980s, the series follows a devoted daughter who competes with her peers and searches for her path in the world of women’s professional wrestling, during a time when women strove to gain freedom through strength and challenged a male-dominated society.
Yuriyan Retriever, who plays Dump Matsumoto, spent two years training to achieve a wrestler’s physique and embody her role. Joining her are Erika Karata (Chigusa Nagayo) and Ayame Goriki (Lioness Asuka), along with the following cast that were unveiled in the teaser:
The brothers who founded All Nippon Women’s Pro Wrestling: Jun Murakami as Takashi Matsunaga,
Daisuke Kuroda as Kunimatsu Matsunaga, and Takumi Saitoh as Toshikuni Matsunaga.
Takuma Otoo as Shiro Abe, the promoter and referee for the wrestling promotion.
Nobuko Sendo as Dump Matsumoto’s mother, Satoko.
Additionally, 24,000+ extras were assembled to recreate the enthusiasm of the wrestling venues and crowds of the 1980s.
During production, real-life wrestlers Dump Matsumoto and Chigusa Nagayo served as pro-wrestling supervisors and witnessed the actresses’ hard work. Matsumoto remarks, “Yuriyan’s powerful performance is incredible. Some parts will make you cry, and I hope viewers will watch The Queen of Villains and feel inspired to believe that their dreams can come true if they never quit or give up.” Nagayo adds, “Our story from the 1980s was authentically captured with this series, and I’m grateful for the strength and resilience of the women we were back then.”
The Queen of Villains premieres globally on September 19, only on Netflix.
