Netflix Is Producing a Live-Action Version of Erased

One of the best anime series that I’ve seen in recent history is Tomohiko Itō’s Erased, in which a young man finds himself transported back in time to grade school, giving him a chance to prevent the kidnapping and murder of a classmate. The series, which is currently streaming on Hulu, is a skillful blend of murder mystery, suspense, and coming-of-age melodrama, and I highly recommend it.

The anime series was, itself, adapted from Kei Sanbe’s manga, which also inspired a live-action film starring Tatsuya Fujiwara (Death Note, Battle Royale) that was released in Japanese theaters back in 2016. And now, Netflix is taking a crack at Sanbe’s manga with a live-action Erased series that will premiere in Japan on December 15, and throughout the rest of the world later this winter.

The series will be directed by Ten Shimoyama (Kikaider: The Ultimate Human Robot, Shinobi: Heart Under Blade) and star Yūki Furukawa, Mio Yūki, Shigeyuki Totsugi, and Noriko Eguchi. And interestingly, I found this bit while doing some research: Netflix’s series will keep the same climax as Sanbe’s original manga, which was changed for the anime and live-action films. I’m curious to see how well the original ending compares to the anime ending, which did a really good job of wrapping things up in a satisfactory way.