Junpei Mizobata poses on the green carpet during the Tokyo International Film Festival Opening Ceremony at Roppongi Hills on October 22, 2011 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo : Koki Nagahama/Getty Images)
"Hurricane Polymar" will be getting a live-action film adaptation, set to be released in 2017.
Japanese animation company Tatsunoko Productions made the announcement on Tuesday, Anime News Network reported. The studio was also behind the television anime series, which had its original run from October 1974 to March 1975, and its two-part original video animation titled "Hurricane Polymar: Holy Blood" Volumes 1 and 2, released in September 1996 and February 1997, respectively.
According to Anime Anime, the film features actor Junpei Mizobata as the lead. He previously starred as Kudo Shinichi in the live-action adaptation of "Detective Conan," among other projects. With him are Yuki Yamada, Yurina Yanagi, and Mikie Hara.
The original anime of "Hurricane Polymar," which had 26 episodes, focused on the character Takeshi Yoroi. He was trained as a criminal investor but his principles in crime fighting was different from his superior's so they parted ways. He was later able to get a suit made from polymet, an artificial kind of polymer that, although sturdier than steel, also allowed him to transform his shape. With his ability to change, even into different vehicles, he began fighting for justice under the name Hurricane Polymer.
The upcoming movie is being directed by Koichi Sakamoto, who also helmed "009-1: The End of the Beginning" in 2013, "Ultraman Ginga S" in 2014, and numerous "Kamen Rider" installments, such as "Kamen Rider W" from 2009 to 2010, "Kamen Rider Fourze the Movie: Space, Here We Come!" in 2012, and "Kamen Rider Ghost" in 2016. Sakamoto, who is also a fight coordinator, likewise directed some episodes in the "Power Rangers" franchise. This will reportedly be the first time he will work on an anime's film adaptation.
The screenplay is penned by Shinsuke Ōnishi, known for working on "Daimajin Kanon."
The live-action film adaptation of the "Hurricane Polymar" anime is scheduled to be released at the Shinjuku Wald 9 in Tokyo and other theaters in May 2017. It is part of the 55th anniversary celebration of Tatsunoko Productions.
Here is the opening of the 1974 anime:
