Netflix to adapt ‘Ikusagami’ as ‘Last Samurai Standing’
Netflix says it is developing a series, “Last Samurai Standing,” with Japanese actor Junichi Okada, who plays the lead and also serves as producer and action choreographer. Michito Fujii will direct.
“Last Samurai Standing” is based on the Shogo Imamura novel “Ikusagami,” which was adapted as a manga series. The show presents “an intriguing tale of survival and honor” set against the backdrop of an epic battle royale.
“Set in the late 19th century during the Meiji period, Last Samurai Standing takes place at the Tenryuji Temple in Kyoto. Come nightfall, 292 skilled warriors gather, lured by the promise of a grand prize of 100 billion yen. Among them is our protagonist, Shujiro Saga (Okada), who enters this dangerous game with one goal: to save his ailing wife and child,” an official synopsis reads.
“Last Samurai Standing” strives to reflect “the timeless allure of samurai tales and the enduring spirit of those who lived through those times.”
“I wrote Ikusagami with the intention of making a historical novel that could be enjoyed worldwide,” Imamura said in a statement. “When Netflix approached me, I was overjoyed. And having Junichi Okada in the lead role was a dream come true, as I had envisioned him as Shujiro while writing.”