Naniwa Danshi member Shunsuke Michieda will star in the movie “Leviathan” (リバイアサン), a live-action adaptation of the manga by Shiro Kuroi, alongside Natsuki Deguchi. Distributed by Toho, it will be released nationwide in Japan on February 11, 2027.
The film is a sci-fi thriller set aboard a spaceship. It will be directed by Michihito Fujii, known for the Netflix series “Ikusagami” and the film “Dear Starry Sky,” together with Ryohei Shingu, who is making his feature-film directorial debut and previously collaborated with Michihito on amazarashi‘s “Swipe” music video.
The story follows thirty-eight students stranded aboard the spaceship “Leviathan.” Although they desperately attempt to return home, they eventually discover the horrifying truth that there’s only room for one person in the ship’s cryogenic chamber. Thus, they begin to suspect, betray, and kill one another through various means, descending into an extreme state of desperation. With only 41 hours of oxygen remaining, they are forced into a brutal game in which the odds of survival are just 1 in 38.
Shunsuke Michieda portrays the protagonist, Kazuma Ichinose, who becomes increasingly paranoid after suddenly finding himself trapped in this cruel battle for survival. Having steadily built up his experience as an actor—including starring in the films “Even if This Love Disappears from The World Tonight” and “The Last Song you Left Behind”—Shunsuke delivers an intense performance as someone who struggles to survive a world of madness despite being battered and exhausted. Natsuki Deguchi, meanwhile, plays Futaba Nikaido, a calm and ruthless heroine who is willing to do whatever it takes to live. Through her behavior and actions, she skillfully manipulates Kazuma while scheming behind the scenes.
An official trailer has also been released.
The teaser features breathtaking imagery of outer space. The thirty-eight students, who had been laughing together only seconds earlier, become consumed by madness as they attack one another and wave knives in an attempt to seize the life-support equipment. Futaba can also be heard saying, “This is where the real hell begins.” Besides Shunsuke and Natsuki, the actors playing the students have not been revealed yet.
Comments from the cast and creators
Shunsuke Michieda
“I am Shunsuke Michieda and I played the role of Kazuma Ichinose.
The only person you can trust is yourself. It’s a deeply human story about being pushed to your limits in a space where you are constantly confronted with death.
During filming, as I was constantly guided by Director Fujii, through acting, I was able to reach places that I had never experienced before.
Every time I played Ichinose, I still vividly remember the feeling of being pushed to my limits.
I hope you will look forward to the powerful visuals and the performances of the cast as they witness what kind of death game awaits the students who find themselves in a desperate situation.”1
Natsuki Deguchi
“The character I play, Futaba Nikaido, is a calm and ruthless woman. First of all, because it was a role and setting unlike anything I had ever played before, I was really looking forward to starting filming.
In the deadly game played by 38 students from a single class as they struggle to survive in the confined space of a spaceship, there are true natures and betrayals that can only emerge under extreme circumstances, and there were many things that made me think deeply.
Since this production will incorporate VFX in post-production, there were times during filming when I acted without knowing what the finished images would look like, so I am also really looking forward to seeing the completed film!
Who will be the last person to survive? I hope you will watch and see how our deadly game unfolds and how we ultimately arrive at that final outcome.”
Michihito Fujii
“Working on this project with wonderful young actors who will carry the future of Japanese cinema, together with Director Shingu, who I believe will revolutionize visual expression in Japanese film, was incredibly stimulating. The days were also incredibly fun, almost like a school festival.
With the compelling original manga as our talisman, making a film featuring futuristic production design, an enormous amount of VFX, and 38 young actors was a series of experiences unlike anything I had encountered before. I believe we have created a film unlike anything audiences have seen.
Please look forward to Michieda’s awakened performance as the lead who brought the team together, as well as Deguchi’s delicate and nuanced performance supporting him.”
Ryohei Shingu
“I never imagined that a major production like this would become my feature-film directorial debut. I am grateful to Michihito Fujii for reaching out to me.
For a long time, I devoted myself to commercials and music videos. As someone coming to Japanese film from another genre, the past two years have been a period in which I constantly asked myself what I could contribute.
With ‘a work that can compete on the world stage’ as our shared motto, I believe we created a film that fully brings out the strengths of both of us.
Based on a grand and powerful original work, we created a visual world that places importance on the duality of human nature, the contrast between light and shadow, and a distinctly Japanese sensibility.
I also believe the overwhelming VFX are one of the film’s attractions. I hope you will witness in theaters the human nature and pride that lie beyond choices for which there is no right answer.”
Shiro Kuroi
“I am extremely grateful that a manga I had been quietly creating several years ago was given the opportunity to be published in France, and that a live-action film based on that manga has now been produced.
I believe it has been transformed into an excellent visual work through the efforts of professionals in video production with a high level of technical expertise.
I would be delighted if as many people as possible could see this deadly game aboard a spaceship, where the odds of survival are just 1 in 38.
Thank you for your support.”
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- Translation by @nishihatas ↩︎