The Apothecary Diaries is getting a live-action drama starring Mana Ashida, on Prime Video from 2028. Japanese social media flipped from dread to approval within an hour, but one uncast role still has fans nervous.
Kingdom: Decisive Battle of the Soul opened to 2.06 billion yen in four days, the biggest live-action debut in Japan this year. Why the series keeps beating the manga-adaptation curse, and how to watch it abroad.
NHK opens its drama vault to Netflix worldwide on June 22, 2026, with 19 titles rolling out through NHK’s 2026 fiscal year, ending March 2027. The first wave includes Taiga epic Strategist KANBE, instant-noodle origin story Mampuku, and Rakugo-themed Descending Stories. Here is why this Japan-only treasure trove is finally going global, and what is conspicuously missing.
LINE Manga marked 13 years with a "Favorite Manga Election," and the 2,889,609 votes tell a story. One Piece placed in the top three of five categories; Demon Slayer and the Korean webtoon Teenage Mercenary took two each. With a voter base skewing female and under 40, Japanese manga and Korean webtoons split the categories along clean lines. Inside the hybrid platform that puts both in one app, and where international readers can find each title.
Sony Pictures has set Resident Evil for September 18, 2026, with WEAPONS director Zach Cregger helming a 90-minute original story starring Austin Abrams as a medical courier. Test screening reactions hail it as a 'horror version of Fury Road', a lean, brutal reboot streaming-skipping fans have waited a decade for.
Principal photography on A24's Elden Ring movie has begun in London this week. The production has taken over the historic Greenwich Naval College to recreate the game's Royal Capital Leyndell, with leaked set photos showing medieval market scenes, armored soldiers, and dry-ice atmosphere. Additional shoots are planned in Scotland and Iceland. Budget reportedly well over $100M, A24's most ambitious project ever with ~100 days of principal photography.
The first-ever live-action Gundam film in the franchise's 47-year history has begun filming in Australia. Netflix handles global distribution with Sydney Sweeney, Noah Centineo, and Shioli Kutsuna leading the cast. We break down how it differs from past attempts, where international fans can watch, and the Legendary x Bandai Namco production.
FromSoftware and Hidetaka Miyazaki's action RPG Elden Ring is getting a live-action movie on March 3, 2028. Alex Garland (Civil War, Ex Machina) directs for A24 (Midsommar, Everything Everywhere All at Once), with Kit Connor, Ben Whishaw, and Cailee Spaeny headlining a star-studded cast. Reportedly A24's most expensive production at $100M+, filmed for IMAX.
After nearly 20 years of development hell, the Metal Gear Solid live-action movie gets new directors Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein, the duo behind Final Destination Bloodlines. Replacing Jordan Vogt-Roberts, they call the source material a 'cinematic masterpiece' as part of a sweeping Sony deal.
Capcom's iconic fighting game Street Fighter gets a Hollywood live-action movie releasing worldwide on October 16, 2026. Jason Momoa as Blanka, Roman Reigns as Akuma, and a star-studded cast bring 17 fighters to life. The Japanese teaser trailer showcases Ryu, Chun-Li, Guile and more in action-packed scenes.
ONE PIECE manga has surpassed 600 million copies worldwide! Creator Eiichiro Oda has written down the secret of the One Piece treasure for the very first time and, with help from Japan's JAMSTEC ocean research agency, sealed it 651 meters beneath the sea. The answer will only be revealed when the manga ends. Here's everything you need to know about this extraordinary event.
Netflix's biggest Japanese title ever, "Alice in Borderland" Season 3, reached No. 1 globally with 46.3 million hours viewed in its first week. Stars Kento Yamazaki and Tao Tsuchiya on the show's worldwide reach and what Japanese content means to streaming, plus how Season 3 ended up being the last.
Netflix's live-action ONE PIECE Season 2 drops its official trailer. Creator Eiichiro Oda promises to "destroy expectations," as the full Straw Hat crew makes their first-ever official visit to Japan. Season 2 premieres March 10, 2026 with fan events across 13 global cities.
Snow Man's Ren Meguro has joined the cast of FX's Emmy-winning drama Shōgun Season 2 as Kazutada, a new character. After winning his role through audition, the J-pop star embarks on year-long filming in Vancouver, Canada. We explore what this means for Japanese actors in Hollywood and the global impact of Shōgun.
The live-action Blue Lock movie revealed Masataka Kubota as Ego Jinpachi at its production event. Led by Fumiya Takahashi, produced by CREDEUS, and releasing August 7, 2026 during the World Cup year. Full cast details and fan reactions from Japan and abroad.
The Super Sentai Series, running since 1975, ended with "No. 1 Sentai Gozyuger" on February 8, 2026, after revenue from events and merchandise stopped covering production costs. The economics, the exhausted crews, the scandals, and what PROJECT R.E.D. has done with the slot since.