The total number of books published has exceeded 50 million copies. “City Hunter”, a popular comic that was popular as a TV anime in the 1980s and 1990s, will be revived in the Reiwa era as a live-action movie on Netflix. The main character, Ryo Saeba, played by actor Ryohei Suzuki, goes on a rampage in modern-day Shinjuku. Highlights include the thrilling gun action that goes well with partner Hideyuki Makimura, played by Masanobu Ando, and Nozomi Morita, who plays heroine Kaori Makimura. Ahead of its worldwide exclusive distribution starting April 25th (Thursday), we interviewed executive producer Shinichi Takahashi about his thoughts on the latest “City Hunter” from Netflix.
[List of photos in this article]
A new “City Hunter” has been born that will attract fans of the original work.
──First of all, please tell us about your reaction to the completion of the movie “City Hunter”.
TakahashiWhen I worked with Ryohei Suzuki on the movie “Hitoyo”, Ryohei told me that he wanted to play Saeba Ryo from City Hunter someday. It didn’t seem like it was going to happen right away at the time, but a few months after I joined Netflix, I received a project proposal from a production company.
The live-action adaptation was extremely difficult. In fact, this is the movie that took me the longest time to develop and produce, almost three years, since I joined Netflix. That’s why it’s so fulfilling. This is a work that was created by the director and all the staff, so I am deeply moved.
──I saw the preview. I am also a member of the “City Hunter” generation, and I am very satisfied with it. It was really interesting! Everyone in the cast played their roles perfectly, and it was a “new “City Hunter” that didn’t feel out of place at all.
Takahashithank you. I’m really, really happy because I wanted people from the City Hunter generation to feel that it was “new” while still having the City Hunter feel. I had the opportunity to discuss the script many times with the original author, Tsukasa Hojo. Mr. Hojo warmly encouraged me and said, “Live-action is live-action, so please feel free to make City Hunter into a movie as you like.” “But, even so, I can’t ignore the essence of City Hunter…” I thought to myself with trepidation as I searched for various ideas. The entire production team carefully discussed how to maximize the appeal of City Hunter and strike a balance that would appeal to fans of the original work and TV anime, while keeping in mind those who are new to the City Hunter content. I’ve been repeating it.
Ryohei Suzuki and Nozomi Morita, the background behind the selection of attractive cast members
──Did you encounter any difficulties in adapting the popular original work into a film?
TakahashiI agree. The original City Hunter contains a worldview and values unique to the 1980s, which can be considered somewhat eccentric from today’s perspective. However, if we take away the fun of City Hunter based on modern values, we will lose the meaning of making City Hunter into a movie now. We created a “City Hunter” from scratch that should be produced in modern times, while taking advantage of the “uniqueness” of the work. I was very happy to have Mr. Hojo come to our preview room, and when he saw the finished work, he said, “It was really interesting.”
──Not only Ryohei Suzuki’s Ryo Saeba, but also Nozomi Morita, who played Kaori Makimura, and the rest of the cast are very attractive.
TakahashiRegarding the casting of Mr. Morita, myself and the other producers advised the director. I feel that Mr. Morita, who also appears in the Netflix work “Naked Director,” is a possessive type of actor that is quite unique. My impressions of Mr. Morita both off and on are so different that I wonder if he’s a different person. She also offered the role of Kaori Makimura with the hope that she would play the role as if she were possessed by the character that fans have come to expect.
Mr. Morita cut off his trademark long hair and tried his hand at a short cut for the first time. Immediately after production began, it seemed like there was a lot of trial and error in developing the role, such as interacting with Ryohei Suzuki, but the final goal was to create the “incense itself”, or rather, to create a character that really deeply resonated with the fans. I think Kaoru Makimura is the one that sticks out to me. I am grateful.
──That’s exactly how Kaoru Makimura, who worked on the original manga and anime, said, “This is exactly what it would look like if it were drawn in live-action!” And the actors who played the villains (?) who colored the story were also very good. Everyone is so nice.
Takahashithank you. It was worth sharing the image of the work with the cast and carefully crafting the characters, including the costumes.
The filming of the movie received the full cooperation of Shinjuku Kabukicho.
──I think the streets of Shinjuku Kabukicho, where the story takes place, are very realistic and vivid. When I walked around Shinjuku after watching City Hunter, I felt as if Ryo Saeba was about to walk towards me from the other side.
TakahashiThe reason we were able to achieve this level of reality is because of the great cooperation we received from everyone in Shinjuku Ward. Shinjuku Kabukicho is the busiest shopping district in the East, with a large number of people coming and going. Therefore, it is basically a place where it is very difficult to obtain permission for filming.
However, this time, everyone in the shopping district who loved the original work greeted us with enthusiasm, saying, “If it’s City Hunter.” This is also thanks to the production team’s determination to shoot in Shinjuku, and their careful explanations and negotiations with all concerned, including Shinjuku government officials. With some kind of special permission, we were able to film in the “real Kabukicho” instead of on a set. I think this was possible because of Tsukasa Hojo’s “City Hunter.”
──Please tell us about the scenes in the story that Mr. Takahashi was particularly particular about.
TakahashiI think all City Hunter fans are attached to Ryo and Kaori’s relationship, which is more than lovers but less than lovers, or rather, a special kind of relationship. But this time, City Hunter is a prequel where the relationship between the two is built. How can we bring this story of “loss and rebirth,” in which Ryo loses his older brother, Hideyuki Makimura, and builds a new relationship with Kaori, so that fans will be satisfied with it? This is where I paid the most attention. Also, the director, cast, and staff worked out the lines so that the “breathing of love” between Ryo and Makimura could be achieved.
We paid particular attention to the filming of some of the scenes that strongly represent Ryo’s character. For example, the action scene at the beginning, and the scene where Matt slides down the stairs and flies through a window. We are consciously creating scenes that we want to proudly show, saying, “This is the worldview of City Hunter.” Even though the scene is short, about 15 to 20 seconds long, it took two whole days to shoot. If this scene didn’t exist, production would be much easier… (lol) However, I believe that scenes like this are what makes City Hunter so great.
The rest is also the result of Ryohei’s efforts, but Ryo Saeba is an “excellent sweeper,” so it would be unnatural if you are not used to using guns. Mr. Ryohei really spent a lot of time and made the gun action a reality. Works with gun action like this have been a challenge that is difficult to achieve in Japan, so I’m very happy that we were able to make this work together with Ryohei-san.
The ending theme is of course “Get Wild”
──I was so moved when I heard TM NETWORK’s “Get Wild Continual” as the ending theme. This is the song after all! Is it like a sense of security? I think this song selection will meet the expectations of many fans.
TakahashiWhen making City Hunter into a live-action movie, I couldn’t imagine not using Get Wild as an option. Although the work is distributed not only in Japan but also around the world, one of the points we wanted to make was to ensure that the value of the content, which has been loved by many fans, will be preserved for future generations.
──Moreover, this is a new song performed and recorded by TM NETWORK.
TakahashiThat’s right. The members of TM NETWORK have arranged Get Wild several times and recorded new ones, but Tetsuya Komuro has decided that this City Hunter is set in modern-day Shinjuku Kabukicho. I told them that I would be making it and asked for a new “Reiwa version” of Get Wild, and they exchanged information. We wanted to honor the image we had of the song Get Wild, so we made the intro as faithful to the original as possible. I think the ending leaves you immersed in the afterglow of the story even after the last scene.
The true meaning of Netflix’s “Creator First” spirit
──This is a little different from your work, but what kind of work is it like to be a producer at Netflix? Mr. Takahashi, how is working at Netflix different from your career?
TakahashiThe content team at Netflix, to which I belong, focuses on creating works that emphasize storytelling. We have dedicated in-house professionals who work on projects in parallel with the content team, including production management, post-production, VFX (visual video technology), and public relations teams. It may be said that Netflix is very different from other workplaces in that each person creates a work through a cooperative relationship with a good division of labor.
Before joining Netflix, I worked as a producer at a film company. At that time, the production limit was around four movies or dramas a year. Although I wanted to create more works, I sometimes ran into physical and time constraints. At Netflix, we have an environment that satisfies our creative desire to create more and create stories that have never been seen before while trying new things. Works that have already been announced this year include “Jijishitachi”, “Queen of Evil”, and “Talk Survivor! Season 3”, and we have many works in preparation for next year and beyond.
──I’ve heard before that Netflix has a “creator-first” environment and spirit that continues to bring ambitious works by talented creators to viewers.
TakahashiSpeaking from my own experience, Netflix has a culture of respecting creators who take on the challenge of creating something new that no one has seen before, while keeping an eye on viewer expectations. Netflix’s strength is that it provides the best possible environment for creators to focus on creating their works by supporting creators’ intended visual expressions with world-class production know-how and technology. By doing this, we will be able to maximize the appeal of the work, and as a result, we will be able to create high-quality works that will please viewers, and we believe that they will reach not only Japanese viewers, but also the world.
TakahashiWhat gadgets do producers love?
──In connection with GetNavi web, please tell us about any gadgets that you use in your work, Mr. Takahashi.
TakahashiI love Sony’s wireless earphones “WF-1000XM5.” I wear it all day long, checking videos and listening to the radio while I’m on the go. When doing desk work or reading materials, I sometimes turn on the noise canceling and use it like earplugs without playing music.
In my work environment, I have Dell’s 40-inch curved large wide monitor “U4021QW”. Since I often work with various materials displayed on one screen, I use two machines and work on dual monitors. To be more precise, I’m also using a laptop screen, so it’s a triple monitor environment (lol).
Since I work at a desk for a long time, my shoulders inevitably get stiff. Panasonic’s “Coricoran Wide” is indispensable for daily body maintenance. It’s very easy to use and it’s really helpful. I also use Fujifilm’s mirrorless digital camera “X-S20” more as a hobby than for work. I love this camera’s “Film Simulation Mode” so much that I can’t put it down.
— Mr. Takahashi, you are involved in a variety of works, but do you have a routine in your daily life that you value in order to receive information?
TakahashiWell, I think I read quite a lot of magazines, including GetNavi. I don’t limit myself to magazines related to my field of interest; I regularly read women’s magazines as well. I always have fun thinking about how my customers can enjoy the work I want to create. To that end, I will continue to receive information and keep an eye on the current atmosphere, people’s lifestyles, trends, etc.
What will happen to the relationship between Ryo and Kaori from now on?Looking forward to the sequel
──Finally, please give a message from Mr. Takahashi to those who will be watching the Netflix movie “City Hunter” from now on.
TakahashiIf Ryo Saeba existed in modern times, wouldn’t this be what would happen? I am proud that Ryohei Suzuki, the cast, the director, and all the staff worked together to create this work based on the charm of the original work.
One day, when I was talking with the original author, Hojo-san, he said, “It would be absolutely impossible to recreate Kaori’s 100-ton hammer in live-action.” Well, that’s true, I thought, as we introduced the “roots” that would later become 100 Ton Hammer in this work (lol). In other words, I’ve tried to sprinkle the essence of “Episode Zero” into various parts of this work, including episodes that were thought to be difficult to adapt into live-action.
To give another example, there is a scene where Kaori visits Ryo’s office for the first time and goes to the underground shooting range. At first, we, the production team, couldn’t figure out why Kaori’s feet were facing the shooting range, and we couldn’t make the scene consistent. While I was in agony, Mr. Hojo gave me the advice, “Isn’t it possible that people go looking for various things and accidentally discover a shooting range without knowing that it’s a shooting range?” This is the scene of this work. I would also like you to pay attention to the scenes created in collaboration with Mr. Hojo.
──Maybe I’m too quick, but I’m looking forward to the sequel!
Takahashithank you. If the fans can look forward to seeing how the relationship between Ryo and Kaori will change from now on, I myself would like to see the sequel.
Netflix movie “City Hunter”
April 25th (Thursday) Exclusive worldwide distribution on Netflix
(STAFF & CAST)
Original work: Tsukasa Hojo “City Hunter”
Director: Yuichi Sato
Executive producer: Shinichi Takahashi (Netflix)
Producer: Keisuke Sanpei, Okimasa Oshida
Screenplay: Tatsuro Mishima
Ending theme: “Get Wild Continual” TM NETWORK (Sony Music Labels Inc.)
Original cooperation: Core Mix
Cast: Ryohei Suzuki, Nozomi Morita, Masanobu Ando
Asuka Hanamura Ayame Mizusaki Moemi Katayama Ami 201
Tetta Sugimoto Takaya Sakoda / Fumino Kimura Isao Hashizume
Netflix work page: www.netflix.com/City Hunter
Photography/Satoru Nakata
Tags: City Hunter starring Ryohei Suzuki streaming Netflix producer talks respect original GetNavi web GetNavi
-
