The main trailer for the upcoming action film Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning has been revealed.
Despite the previous film being called The Final, Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning is the fifth and final film in the popular Japanese film franchise. It’s a prequel story that will focus on Himura Kenshin’s past as the assassin Hitokiri Battōsai, as well as his relationship with Yukishiro Tomoe. More importantly, it will tell the story of how he received his iconic scar.
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The prequel film will star Takeru Satoh and Kasumi Arimura. Issey Takahashi, Nijirō Murakami, Masanobu Ando, Towa Araki, Kazuki Kitamura, and Yōsuke Eguchi will round out the cast. Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning is directed by Keishi Ōtomo; he also provided the screenplay for the film. Hiroyoshi Koiwai and Satoshi Fukushima will produce. It is being distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.
The Rurouni Kenshin film franchise is based on the manga series written and illustrated by Nobuhiro Watsuki. Its original run was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from April 1994 to September 1999. As of 2019, the manga has over 72 million copies in circulation, making it one of the best-selling manga series ever.
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An anime adaptation of the manga was also produced by Studio Gallop and Studio Deen between January 1996 and September 1998. Directed by Kazuhiro Furuhashi (Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn, Hunter × Hunter), it is among one of the most-watched anime series of all time. Rurouni Kenshin even saw syndication in North America on Cartoon Network’s Toonami block.
Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning will be in theaters in Japan on June 4, 2021.