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French Live-Action City Hunter Film Previewed in Trailer
posted on by Crystalyn Hodgkins
Sony Pictures France began streaming a trailer on Tuesday for French actor, writer, and director Philippe Lacheau's (Babysitting, Alibi.com) live-action film adaptation of Tsukasa Hōjō's City Hunter manga. The film's title is Nicky Larson et le Parfum de Cupidon (Nicky Larson and the Cupid's Purfume). Nicky Larson is the French title of the City Hunter franchise.
The film will open in France on February 6, 2019. The film stars Philippe Lacheau as Nicky Larson. Tarek Boudali and Élodie Fontan also star in the film. Philippe Lacheau and Pierre Lacheau wrote the film alongside writer and actor Julien Arruti.
The manga follows Ryō Saeba, a sniper and a private eye ("sweeper") based in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward with unrivaled marksmanship and an over-the-top obsession for the opposite sex. He serves as a bodyguard and other duties for his clients.
Hojo's 1985 manga inspired four television anime series, one anime film, and several video and television specials including a 2015 original anime DVD. ADV Films released most of these anime projects in North America. Jackie Chan starred in a 1993 Hong Kong live-action film that very loosely adapts the original manga. A Korean live-action television series adaptation premiered in 2011, and Hulu streamed this version in the United States.
A separate Chinese live-action film adaptation has been green-lit for December 2018 or later in China.
The manga is also inspiring a new anime film that will open in Japan on February 8.
Hojo launched the Angel Heart spinoff manga in 2001, and that series inspired a television anime in 2005. The spinoff manga also inspired a live-action television series that premiered in 2015, and Crunchyroll streamed this series as it aired.
Hojo's Angel Heart 2nd Season manga ended in May 2017, and Sokura Nijiki launched a spinoff manga titled Kyō kara City Hunter in July 2017. est em launched another spinoff manga titled City Hunter Gaiden Ijuin Hayato-shi no Heion Naranu Nichijō (City Hunter Gaiden Mr. Hayato Ijuin's not peaceful life) in April.
Source: Sony Pictures France's YouTube channel via Hachima Kikō
