BLEACH (Live Action 2018) Press Notes and Photos From Warner Bros. Japan
Source: Warner Bros. Pictures Japan
Official Site: bleach-movie.jp (Japan)
A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE
Warner Bros. Pictures Japan has provided information and large, high-res photos from BLEACH (ブリーチ, Buriichi), the live-action feature film based on the hit supernatural manga by Tite Kubo. The serialized manga debuted in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in 2001, with the 74 collected volumes having sold more than 120 million copies worldwide.
BLEACH is co-written and directed by Shinsuke Sato. Sato has a history of successfully adapting manga for the big screen; his credits include the movies GANTZ (前編, Gantsu, 2011), GANTZ II: PERFECT ANSWER (前編 PERFECT ANSWER, Gantsu Pafekuto Ansaa, 2011), DEATH NOTE Light up the NEW world (デスノート Light up the NEW world, Desu Noto Light up the NEW world, 2016) and INUYASHIKI (いぬやしき, 2018).
The main character, Ichigo Kurosaki, is played by Sota Fukushi. Fukushi is best known as Gentaro Kisaragi/Kamen Rider Fourze in the KAMEN RIDER FOURZE (仮面ライダーフォーゼ, Kamen Raidaa Fooze, 2011-2012) television series and several films, including KAMEN RIDER FOURZE & OOO: MOVIE WAR MEGA MAX (仮面ライダー×仮面ライダー フォーゼ＆オーズ MOVIE大戦 MEGA MAX, Kamen Raidaa × Kamen Raidaa Fooze ando Oozu: Muubii Taisen Mega Makkusu, 2011), KAMEN RIDER X SUPER SENTAI: SUPER HERO TAISEN (仮面ライダー×スーパー戦隊 スーパーヒーロー大戦, Kamen Raidaa × Suupaa Sentai: Suupaa Hiiroo Taisen, 2012), KAMEN RIDER FOURZE THE MOVIE (仮面ライダーフォーゼ THE MOVIE みんなで宇宙キターッ!, Kamen Raidaa Fooze Za Muubii Min’nade Uchuu Kitaaa!, 2012) and KAMEN RIDER X KAMEN RIDER WIZARD & FOURZE: MOVIE WAR ULTIMATUM (仮面ライダー×仮面ライダー MOVIE大戦 アルティメイタム, Kamen Raidaa × Kamen Raidaa Uizaado Ando Fooze Muubii Taisen Arutimeitamu, 2012) and KAMEN RIDER HEISEI GENERATIONS FINAL (仮面ライダー平成ジェネレーションズFINAL ビルド＆エグゼイドwithレジェンドライダー, Kamen Raidaa Heisei Jenereeshonzu Fainaru: Birudo ando Eguzeido wizu Rejendo Raidaa, 2017). His additional credits include the film version of LIBRARY WARS (図書館戦争, Toshokan Senso, 2013), SAY “I LOVE YOU” (好きっていいなよ。, Sukitte Ii Nayo, 2014), MY TOMORROW, YOUR YESTERDAY. (ぼくは明日、昨日のきみとデートする, Boku wa Ashita, Kinou no Kimi to Date Suru, 2016) and LAUGHING UNDER THE CLOUDS (曇天に笑う, Donten ni Wwarau, 2018).
The Soul Reaper Rukia Kuchiki is played by Fukushi’s BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL (無限の住人, Mugen no Junin, 2017) co-star, Hana Sugisaki. After a number of television roles, Sugisaki made the move to features with the 2012 movie HUMANOID MONSTER BEM (妖怪人間ベム, Yokai Ningen Bemu). She also provided the voice of Sayaka in Studio Ghibli’s WHEN MARNIE WAS THERE (思い出のマーニー, Omoide no Maanii, 2014) and the title character in MARY AND THE WITCH’S FLOWER (メアリと魔女の花, Meari to Majo no Hana, 2017), the internationally acclaimed first film from Studio Ponoc.
The supporting cast includes Masami Nagasawa (GODZILLA: TOKYO SOS, HIDDEN FORTRESS: THE LAST PRINCESS, YOUR NAME, GINTAMA, THE LIES SHE LOVED) and Yosuke Eguchi (RUROUNI KENSHIN Trilogy, NAPPING PRINCESS) as Ichigo’s parents, Masaki and Isshin Kurosaki; Ryo Yoshizawa (KAMEN RIDER FOURZE, WOLF GIRL & BLACK PRINCE, GINTAMA) and Erina Mano (KAMEN RIDER FOURZE, THE NEXT GENERATION -PATLABOR-, TAG) as classmates Uryu Ishida and Orihime Inoue: Erina Mano; and Seiichi Tanabe (RING 0: BIRTHDAY, NEO ULTRA Q) as Kisuke Urahara, the quirky owner of Urahara Shop. The singer-songwriter MIYAVI portrays Byakuya Kuchiki, 6th Division Captain of the Soul Reaper organization, Gotei 13. His lieutenant, Renji Abarai, is played by Taichi Saotome (ZATOICHI, CROWS EXPLODE).
BLEACH will be released in Japanese cinemas on July 20 by Warner Bros. Pictures Japan. The film will have its International Premiere at Fantasia 2018 in Montreal.
STORY
Ichigo Kurosaki is an ordinary high school student except that he is able to see ghosts. Then suddenly, his peaceful everyday life is shattered when he and his family become targets of the monstrous evil spirits called Hollows who devour human souls.
Rukia Kuchiki, a mysterious girl who calls herself a Soul Reaper, desperately tries to protect Ichigo’s family and suffers serious injuries in combat against the Hollows. Under such a hopeless circumstances, Rukia, as a last resort, gives part of her power as a Soul Reaper to Ichigo… but this power should not be shared with human beings.
Ichigo, now a Soul Reaper as well as a high school student, launches a fierce battle against the Hollows.
CREDITS
Japanese Theatrical Release: Friday, July 20, 2018 (Nationwide Roadshow)
Running Time: Minutes
Cast
Ichigo Kurosaki: Sota Fukushi
Rukia Kuchiki: Hana Sugisaki
Uryu Ishida: Ryo Yoshizawa
Orihime Inoue: Erina Mano
Yasutora Sado: Tomo Koyanagi
Kisuke Urahara: Seiichi Tanabe
Renji Abarai: Taichi Saotome
Byakuya Kuchiki: MIYAVI (Takamasa Ishihara)
Masaki Kurosaki: Masami Nagasawa
Isshin Kurosaki: Yosuke Eguchi
Staff
Director: Shinsuke Sato
Screenplay: Shinsuke Sato, Daisuke Habara
Original Story: Bleach by Tite Kubo (published by Shueisha Jump Comics)
Music: Yutaka Yamada
Theme Song: “Mosquito Bite” by ALEXANDROS (UNIVERSAL J / RX-RECORDS)
Insert Song: “MILK” by ALEXANDROS
Production: Movie “BLEACH” Production Committee
Production: Cine Bazar
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures Japan
World Sales: Warner Bros.
© Tite Kubo / SHUEISHA © 2018 Movie “BLEACH” Production Committee
