Back in 2017, Netflix released the live-action Death Note film by Adam Wingard. Netflix will also release a live-action adaptation of One Piece. This is also not the first time Yu Yu Hakusho is getting a live-action treatment; the series had a stage play adaptation in Japan, and now, fans are excited to see how Netflix will adapt one of the greatest shonen anime series of all time.
The first chapter of Yu Yu Hakusho debuted in Shonen Jump in 1990, and it features a juvenile delinquent named Yusuke. In an act of heroism, Yusuke saves a kid from a rushing car, and in death, Yusuke’s ghost is given a chance to return ot the living if he completes some trials, but that’s just the beginning. The series is famous for its Dark Tournament Saga as Yusuke and his team of Hiei, Kurama, Kuwabara, and Genkai battle against supernatural teams. The series ended in 1994 with 175 chapters published. The anime adaptation launched in Japan in 1992, and it consisted of 112 episodes, earning an IMDb score of 8.4. Now, fans are highly-anticipating to see Netflix’s live-action adaptation of the classic shonen series. In December 2021, Netflix announced a live-action adaptation of Yu Yu Hakusho. Unlike the live-action Death Note movie, which was an American production, Yu Yu Hakusho is being produced by Akira Morii at Robot Communications, which is the Japanese production studio that worked on the live-action Assassination Classroom and Parasyte films. Here’s everything you need to know about Netflix’s Yu Yu Hakusho:
Yu Yu Hakusho Live-Action Netflix Release Date
The live-action adaptation of Yu Yu Hakusho will be available to stream on Netflix worldwide, but the company hasn’t announced an exact official release date yet. However, on Nov. 9, 2021, Netflix Geeked revealed when fans can expect the live-action to release.
The release window for Netflix’s live-action adaptation of Yu Yu Hakusho is December 2023.
Kazutaka Sakamoto, the producer of Netflix’s Yu Yu Hakusho, is also the executive producer behind the live-action adaptation of Alice in Borderland, which won’t release its second season until December 2022. This could explain why the live-action Yu Yu Hakusho won’t be released until December 2023 if Sakamoto and the crew behind Alice in Borderland Season 2 are currently focused on that show. Hopefully, the series will be well-received. Netflix’s Death Note was considered to be one of the worst live-action adaptations of an anime/manga series, but the Japanese-produced live-action treatments were much better. It would probably take the studio years to do a great live-action adaptation of Yu Yu Hakusho, so I wouldn’t be surprised if it will be released years from now. As expected, the live-action Yu Yu Hakusho series is not included in Netflix’s list of movies and TV shows coming in November 2022, so don’t expect the show to come out anytime soon.
Who are the cast members of Netflix’s live-action Yu Yu Hakusho adaptation?
Variety reported that Takumi Kitamura (Tokyo Revengers) will play Yusuke Urameshi in Netflix’s live-action adaptation of Yu Yu Hakusho.
Back in June, Twitter user @GK90677366 shared a set photo of the actor sporting Yusuke’s bright green uniform, but the tweet has already been deleted. A video clip was also shared on Twitter claiming that it’s from the set of the show. Another tweet reported that the production already started in Tokyo, Japan in June 2021, and that Netflix already built an entire business district to serve as the backdrop. “The filming of Yu Yu Hakusho, which will be live-action on Netflix, started in my neighborhood. I used to watch the anime and I’m really excited. The main actor is Takumi Kitamura. I’m surprised by the scale of the project, which involves the construction of an entire commercial district,” Twitter user Miwa (@miwaclover25) said.
Kurama will be played by Jun Shison:
Hiei will be played by Kanata Hongo:
Shuhei Uesugi will play Kazuma Kuwabara
Kazutaka Sakamoto will serve as executive producer, and Akira Morii will also be producing the live-action adaptation of Yu Yu Hakusho.
What’s the plot of Netflix’s first Yu Yu Hakusho live-action adaptation?
At the time of this writing, the streaming giant hasn’t revealed any official plot details about its live-action adaptation of Yu Yu Hakusho, but we expect that the beginning will show how Yusuke Urameshi becomes the Underworld Detective following his heroic sacrifice. It will most likely show how Yusuke meets Kuwabara, Hiei and Kurama, and feature their adventures in the Labyrinth Castle. While the Dark Tournament Saga is the highlight of the anime/manga series, I think it’s important for the live-action adaptation to show everything that happens before that first. The first season will likely cover the beginning of Yusuke’s journey in the Spirit World as well as his early adventures with his team of fighters. With Netflix cancelling its live-action adaptation of Cowboy Bebop after just the first season, it’s important for the live-action Yu Yu Hakusho to get enough views for the streaming giant to renew the show for another season. We will update you once Netflix shares an official synopsis, and reveal more details about the live-action Yu Yu Hakusho’s story.
Yu Yu Hakusho live-action Netflix trailer: Is there a teaser trailer out already?
Sadly, Netflix hasn’t released a trailer for the live-action Yu Yu Hakusho adaptation yet. Expect key moments in the first trailer like Yusuke’s accident and the introduction of his allies. For now, you can check out this key visual for the upcoming live-action series:
Is the Yu Yu Hakusho anime series available to stream on Netflix?
The Yu Yu Hakusho anime series is only available to stream on Netflix in select countries, but it’s not available to stream in the US, Canada, UK, and Australia. Here’s a list of countries where you can stream Yu Yu Hakusho on Netflix:
JapanBelgiumCzech RepublicFranceGermanyGreeceHong KongHungaryIcelandIndiaIsraelItalyLithuaniaMalaysiaNetherlandsPhilippinesPolandRomaniaRussiaSingaporeSlovakiaSouth AfricaSwedenSwitzerlandThailand
TurkeyUkraine
If you’re in the US, UK, and other regions, you can stream Yu Yu Hakusho anime series on Crunchyroll.
