With the rise of anime, it’s become clear that many streaming services have been upping their game when it comes to the medium that continues to take the world by storm. The fact that Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle took the top spot in North American theaters for two weekends in a row should be cause enough to realize how big anime has become. Netflix has certainly taken this fact to heart, housing more original anime than ever before. In a wild twist, one of the biggest new anime originals for the platform has dropped a new trailer for its live-action adaptation.
Sakamoto Days has been a major original anime entry for Netflix, taking the wildly popular story of Taro Sakamoto and placing it on the small screen for a new generation. Starring as Taro will be the actor Ren Meguro, who will be taking on the part of both the skinny and heavier iterations of the anime store-owner. Here’s how the official website for the live-action production describes the big news,
“Meguro Ren has been cast as the protagonist, the ultimate assassin Sakamoto Taro!
Furthermore, the film will be directed by the comedy genius Fukuda Yuichi! Under the guidance of director Tabuchi Keiya, who has teamed up with Fukuda, Meguro also took on the challenge of superhuman action scenes, full of sharpness and power, never before seen! In addition, a super special trailer that hints at this “super authentic action entertainment blockbuster” and a dual-sided visual featuring Hososaki Gen have been released, further raising expectations for the “life-risking everyday life” depicted in the film!”
Taro Sakamoto Lives
In a new interview with star Meguro Ren, the actor commented on scoring the role and his love of the character, “I am truly honored to be playing the lead role in “Sakamoto Days,” a beloved manga and anime series by many. I was approached about this project while filming a Monday 9 pm drama last year. Up until now, I’ve mostly starred in serious dramas, often taking on roles for someone else, wanting to convey something to the audience. However, this time, I wanted to appear in “Sakamoto Days” for myself. When I read the original manga a few years ago, I enjoyed it as a reader, thinking, “This is so interesting and cool! I wonder who would play this in a movie? Surely a live-action version would be impossible.” I never imagined I would be offered a role in such a work, and I was truly surprised. The character I play, Taro Sakamoto, was once feared as a legendary assassin, but is now a gentle father who puts his family first. This contrast is his greatest charm and makes him a truly cool character.”
The film itself will be directed by Yuichi Fukuda, who anime fans might know for his previous directorial works such as Gintama’s live-action movie, Sgt. Frog, Super Salaryman Mr. Saenaiand more. The movie will arrive next year, 2026, in Japan, though a North American release has yet to be confirmed.
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