Netflix has announced the production of the series “Last Samurai Standing”: a “Battle Royale” in the Japan of the samurai. The series is based on an award-winning novel from 2021. The lead actor Junichi Okada has become infatuated with the manga. The plot of the series sounds like the Netflix hit Squid Game, but with samurai.
What is the plot?
- The award-winning novel “Ikusagami” by Shogo Inamura has also been adapted into a manga.
- The story is set in the late 19th century on the way from Kyoto to Tokyo. 292 talented warriors, masterless samurai, are lured into a temple with the promise of immense wealth, where the death game begins. In today’s currency, it amounts to 600 million euros.
- However, the huge reward proves to be a bait that traps the samurai: just like in “Squid Game,” the losers of each round die until only one remains to claim the prize money.
Squid Game was a tremendous success for Netflix:
The manga source material of “Last Samurai Standing” received enthusiastic reviews
What did the critics say? In reviews of the manga, the story strongly resembles the narratives behind Squid Game or Battle Royale. Although the samurai appear armed in the temple, they first think it is a joke. They are told: They must overcome 7 checkpoints on the way to Tokyo.
Especially desperate fighters accept the dubious offer, hoping for the prize money. To move from station to station, the samurai need “points.”
Quickly, as in Squid Game, individual standout characters become apparent in the sea of samurai:
- Some participants seem weak and team up with others
- others stand out early as particularly dangerous or strong
Creators hope it becomes an international hit
What the author says: Inamura says he was excited by the offer: he wrote the novel with the intention of creating a historical novel that is read worldwide. When he wrote the novel, he always had Junichi Okada in mind, who will now actually play the lead role as Shujiro. A man who participates in the fight to help his sick wife and child.
What the lead actor says: Junichi Okada (43), a former pop star and member of an icon band, says he has been considering how to make historical themes grand, not just in Japan but worldwide. When he discovered the manga and realized that he could reach a global audience with language and style, he was excited about the idea of bringing the project to life.
What Netflix says: They note that it could be quite challenging to adapt the material. After all, they have nearly 300 actors, and each needs a unique costume. This requires effort from the entire team.
More film recommendations:
The title image is from the film Baragaki: Unbroken Samurai with Junichi Okada
