Live-action adaptation of 'Yu Yu Hakusho' to debut on Netflix in December
Did you grow up in the 90s? Here's an early Christmas present just for you, manga and anime lovers: Netflix's live-action adaptation of Ghost Fighter or Yu Yu Hakusho just got a release date.
On their social media pages, the streaming giant announced its exclusive debut this December.
"Tapusin! Tapusin! na ang paghihintay because Yu Yu Hakusho arrives on Netflix December 14," the caption read.
The series, which follows the adventures of a teenage delinquent who becomes a spirit detective after his death, is one of the most popular and influential manga of all time, created by the legendary Yoshihiro Togashi. It made waves when it was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump for four years from 1990.
According to Netflix, the live-action series promises to be faithful to the original manga, while also adding new elements and surprises for fans and viewers.
In order to bring the epic tale to life, Netflix also put together a world-class team of CG and VFX specialists, including Scanline VFX, a famous company that has contributed to blockbuster Hollywood movies including The Witcher, Godzilla vs. Kong, and Avengers: Endgame. Scanline VFX was in charge of developing the characters and the action sequences' breathtaking and realistic graphics for both the physical world and the spirit realm.
On July 16, a teaser poster for the series was unveiled, which shows the four main characters in their signature styles—Yusuke (Eugene) with his Spirit Gun, Kurama (Dennis) with his rose thorn whip, Hiei (Vincent) with his bandaged arm, and Kuwabara (Alfred) holding his uniform.
Takumi Kitamura will take on the role of the protagonist Yusuke, a teenage delinquent who becomes a Spirit Detective after an accident. Meanwhile, Kurama, Hiei, and Kuwabara will be played by actors Jun Shison, Kanata Hongo, and Shuhei Uesugi, respectively.
Yusuke Urameshi will be played by Takumi Kitamura
Kurama will be played by Jun Shison
Kazuma Kuwabara will be played by Shuhei Uesugi
Hiei will be played by Kanata Hongo
Yusuke Urameshi will be played by Takumi Kitamura
Kurama will be played by Jun Shison
Kazuma Kuwabara will be played by Shuhei Uesugi
Hiei will be played by Kanata Hongo
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According to the synopsis, the show will follow Yusuke Urameshi, a junior high school student who suddenly becomes a ghost after dying in an accident while trying to save a child. He meets a spirit guide named Botan, who tells him that he will be given a chance to be revived since he performed an act of goodness despite his delinquency.
After becoming an Underworld Detective, Yusuke is then pulled into a spectacular adventure enveloping the human, demon, and spirit worlds.
In an interview with IGN, director Sho Tsukikawa said that he wanted to highlight the relationship and battles in Ghost Fighter and shared that there would be plenty of action scenes that use "cutting-edge technology".
"When I first heard about Yu Yu Hakusho receiving a live-action adaptation, I honestly wondered if it would even be possible—but after being presented with the producer’s vision and possibilities with Netflix, my expectations grew and I found myself burning with passion to make this project come to life. More than anything, I think the appeal of Yu Yu Hakusho (Ghost Fighter) comes from its characters, which is why I wanted to highlight the appealing relationships and battles in Yu Yu Hakusho," Tsukikawa said.
The anime Yu Yu Hakusho first aired on GMA Network as Ghost Fighter in 1999.