Netflix revealed the cast of the upcoming series Yu Yu Hakusho, based on the legendary Japanese manga of the same name by Yoshihiro Togashi. Yu Yu Hakusho will be premiering worldwide and only on Netflix in December 2023.
The manga was originally serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump (published by Shueisha as Jump Comics) starting in 1990. It is considered a fan favourite and has sold over 50 million copies in Japan alone.
“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,” said director Sho Tsukikawa.
Takumi Kitamura (Let Me Eat Your Pancreas, Tokyo Revengers) will be taking on the lead role of Yusuke in Netflix’s upcoming live action adaptation of the legendary manga Yu Yu Hakusho, where a teen dies and becomes an ‘underworld detective’ to investigate cases involving demons. Furthermore, Jun Shison (Battle of Supreme High, Bubble)will be taking on the role of Kurama.
The manga revolves around Yusuke Urameshi, a junior high school student who spends his days getting into fights and dies in an accident while trying to protect a young child. As he grapples with the fact that he is looking down on his dead body, a woman named Botan, who calls herself a guide to the spirit world, relays to him the shocking truth: no one expected a delinquent like Yusuke to die performing an act of goodness, and there was no place for him in either heaven or hell. Thus, Yusuke is given a chance to be revived, and after passing his trial, he becomes an Underworld Detective. From there, Yusuke becomes entwined in a mystery that envelopes the human, demon and spirit worlds.
Yu Yu Hakusho is being produced by Akira Morii of Robot and Netflix. Kaata Sakamoto serves as the executive producer and Tatsuro Mishima is responsible for the screenplay.