Top Korean and Japanese creators team up for a reboot of Toho’s legendary tokusatsu film THE HUMAN VAPOR — now reimagined with a brand-new story as a Netflix series, premiering July 2. 

 

In their first-ever collaboration, Netflix and Toho have rebooted the iconic Japan studio’s legendary special effects film THE HUMAN VAPOR (ガス人間第一号, Gasu Ningen Daiichigō,1960) as a live-action series, which will feature a fresh storyline and cutting-edge visual effects technology.

Yeon Sang-ho and Shinzo Katayama at Toho Studio No. 9 in Tokyo. Photo courtesy of Netflix.

The new HUMAN VAPOR (ガス人間, Gasu Ningen) series is written and executive produced by Yeon Sang-ho, the creator behind international hits such as TRAIN TO BUSAN (부산행; Busanhaeng, 2016), HELLBOUND (지옥, Jiok, 2021-24) and PARASYTE: THE GREY (기생수: 더 그레이, Gisaengsu: deo geurei, 2024). Shinzo Katayama directs the project, known for his unflinching portrayals of human darkness and madness in GANNIBAL (ガンニバル, Gan'nibaru, 2022), SIBLINGS OF THE CAPE (岬の兄妹, Misaki no Kyōdai, 2019), and MISSING (さがす, Sagasu, 2022).

At the center of the story is the Human Vapor himself, played by UTA, a talented newcomer making his acting debut. UTA was selected from many candidates with the specific goal of finding “a fresh actor with a totally blank canvas.” With an uncanny, overwhelming screen presence, he pulls viewers into a vortex of fear and exhilaration.

Surrounding him is a powerhouse Japanese cast. Shun Oguri (WEATHERING WITH YOU, GODZILLA VS KONG) plays Kenji Okamoto, the detective relentlessly pursuing the Human Vapor, while Yu Aoi (RUROUNI KENSHIN, TOKYO TAXI) plays Kyoko Kono, a reporter determined to uncover the truth. This is their first live-action project together in 23 years, marking an exciting return for fans of the duo who bring a commanding presence to the screen. Suzu Hirose (LUPIN III: THE FIRST) and Kento Hayashi (MABOROSHI) portray livestreaming siblings — uniquely complex characters who inject tremendous momentum into the story — and Yutaka Takenouchi (SHIN GODZILLA) is almost unrecognizable as a former yakuza member turned company president. As their characters collide with the Human Vapor’s path of destruction, they drive the narrative in increasingly unpredictable directions.

Shun Oguri expressed his enthusiasm for the project, saying, "I was captivated by the intriguing developments and the human drama that you would never expect from this title. With the extraordinary talents from both Japan and Korea, along with our incredible Japanese cast, I am beyond excited to be part of building this wonderful work step by step."

Yu Aoi also expressed excitement about the project, saying, “I am looking forward to discovering what kind of experience this will be. While striving to deliver this work to everyone, I also want to maintain the spirit of adventure that is unique to our team.”

Originally directed by Ishiro Honda, the visionary behind Godzilla, THE HUMAN VAPOR was part of the "Transforming Human Series," a genre released by Toho in the 1950s and 1960s that also included THE INVISIBLE AVENGER (透明人間, Tōmei Ningen,1954), THE H-MAN (美女と液体人間, Bijo to Ekitai-Ningen, 1958), and THE SECRET OF THE TELEGIAN (電送人間, Densō Ningen, 1960). The film became a masterpiece of sci-fi thrillers, renowned for its exploration of power structures and societal oppression. More than half a century later, this classic masterpiece is reborn as a world-shaking spectacle on an unprecedented scale.

The HUMAN VAPOR series will breathe new life into this classic tale, using state-of-the-art VFX and setting the story in modern-day Japan. The project brings together a powerhouse alliance of Toho, the South Korean production content company WOWPOINT, and Netflix - uniting the leaders of global entertainment. The production team worked hard to ground HUMAN VAPOR in realism and avoid it feeling like pure fantasy. VFX by Shirogumi — the Academy Award–winning team that stunned global audiences with its work on GODZILLA MINUS ONE — is paired with large-scale set pieces, including grand car chases. The result is a visual experience on an entirely new level, far surpassing the scale of past Japanese drama series and poised to reach viewers worldwide.

HUMAN VAPOR starts streaming July 2, only on Netflix. 

                                                                                                       Teaser trailer. Video courtesy of Netflix. TM & © TOHO CO., LTD.