The live-action film adaptation of Under Ninja, based on Kengo Hanazawa’s popular manga, just released its first full trailer. The movie will hit theaters in Japan on January 24, 2025, promising an action-packed story filled with suspense and a fresh twist on the ninja genre.
Kento Yamazaki stars as Kurō Kumogakure, the main character. You might know Yamazaki from other live-action hits like Alice in Borderland and Kingdom. Minami Hamabe, who plays the heroine Ayaka Noguchi, also joins the cast. Hamabe recently appeared in Godzilla Minus One and Shin Kamen Rider, making her a familiar face for many fans. The cast also includes Amane Okayama as Saruta, Chihiro Yamamoto as Mitsuki Yamada, and Ryubi Miyase as Shion Hachiya, creating a star-studded lineup.
Yūichi Fukuda, the director and writer of the film, brings his expertise from other live-action adaptations like Gintama and Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku. This film marks Fukuda and Yamazaki’s third collaboration, following projects like Wotakoi and The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. Although this is Fukuda and Hamabe’s first major collaboration, she previously guest-starred in one of his shows.
If you’re new to Under Ninja, the manga follows Kurō, a teenage boy who takes on an unusual job as a modern-day ninja. Kurō handles high-stakes missions and even international assassinations. After World War II, a secret ninja organization formed to manage peace and security within Japan and the Pacific region. Now, Kurō must protect Tokyo from dangerous foreign threats.
Since its debut in 2018, the manga has won fans worldwide, leading to an anime adaptation that premiered in October 2023. Denpa, the manga’s publisher, releases the series in English, so international fans can enjoy the story before the live-action film arrives.
