‘Blade Of The Immortal’ Live-Action Movie Reveals Image Of Kimura Takuya As Manji; Announces Additional Cast Members

The highly anticipated live-action movie adaptation of "Blade Of The Immortal" has just revealed an image of popular Japanese actor, Kimura Takuya, as the titular character Manji. It was also announced that nine additional cast members were added to the movie.

The live-action movie adaptation of "Blade Of The Immortal" or "Mugen no Junin" has just added nine additional cast members. It was announced that Sota Fukushi, Hayato Ichihara, Erika Toda, Kazuki Kitamura, Chiaki Kuriyama, Shinnosuke Mitsushima, Ichikawa Ebizo XI, Min Tanaka, and Tsutomu Yamazaki will play as Kagehisa Anotsu, Shira, Makie Otono-Tachibana, Sabato Kuroi, Hyakurim, Taito Magatsu, Eiku Shizuma, Kagimura Habaki, and Kensui Ibane respectively.

The announced additional cast members join leads, Hana Sugisaki as the heroine Rin Asano and super popular Japanese actor/singer Kimura Takuya who will play the main character, Manji.

The upcoming live-action movie adaptation of "Blade Of The Immortal" will be directed by the controversial director, Takashi Miike. Director Takashi Miike is known for his films such as "Ichi The Killer", Crows Zero and "Visitor Q". "Blade Of The Immortal" is a perfect fit for Takashi Miike as the original manga showcased violent, bloody and gory scenes.

It was reported that director Takashi Miike personally selected Kimura Takuya for the role of Manji in his "Blade Of The Immortal" live-action movie adaptation. This will be the first time both Takashi Miike and Kimura Takuya will be working with each other. Kimura Takuya is no stranger to period dramas as he previously acted in one particularly the movie, "Love and Honor" in 2006.

"Blade Of The Immortal" is the story of Manji, a ronin (wandering swordsman) who is cursed with immortality unless he was able to kill a thousand evil men. Manji is hired by Rin Asano as her bodyguard as she swears revenge on the group of samurais that killed her family.

"Blade Of The Immortal" is a manga by Hiroaki Samura. It was first published in December 1993 by Kodansha. It was completed in 2012 and sold about five million copies, published in 22 countries and was adapted into an anime in 2008. It won the prestigious Excellence Prize in the first Japan Media Arts Festival in 1997 in the manga category. In 2000, "Blade Of The Immortal" was also awarded the Eisner Award for Best U.S Edition of Foreign Material.

The "Blade Of The Immortal" live-action movie is coming to theaters in Japan on April 29, 2017. No word yet if the movie will be released internationally.