Netflix is gearing up to begin rolling out the cast of its upcoming live-action adaptation of classic '90s shonen anime Yu Yu Hakusho, and it's already revealed the show's lead actor. Based on looks alone, he's definitely got the rebellious vibe needed to play the young hero Yusuke.
Netflix just confirmed that the lead role of Yusuke Urameshi will be played by Japanese actor and singer Takumi Kitamura. The announcement was accompanied by a set of teaser posters giving eager fans a glimpse of what to expect from the rest of Yu Yu Hakusho's main cast. As for Kitamura, the young actor has already got a robust career behind him, so he should be more than up for the task.
The casting announcement was made by way of the Netflix Anime Twitter account. Born in 1997, Kitamura began his life in show business at a young age, being scouted by a talent agency while only in 3rd grade. Over the years, he's made a successful living as an actor and singer, with a number of high-profile appearances in Japanese media. Recently, he's received acclaim for his performance in 2021's live-action movie based on the Tokyo Revengers anime as well as the 2019 Japanese remake series of The Good Wife.
Yu Yu Hakusho follows Yusuke Urameshi, a junior high delinquent who dies trying to save a young child from a car accident. As his spirit leaves his body, it turns out that the spirit world didn't expect someone like him to die such a noble death, meaning neither heaven nor hell knows whether they should take him. So he's given a second chance at life by serving as a spirit detective, charged with investigating supernatural activity in the human world. Before long, he gets wrapped up in an adventure of mystery, demons, and a martial arts tournament along with his ever-growing group of friends and allies.
The Netflix series appears to be following the same basic premise, though it's unclear how far it will get into the original series' 112-episode run. Unlike Netflix's other attempts at anime adaptations, like the surprisingly excellent Cowboy Bebop, Yu Yu Hakusho is being handled by Netflix Japan. So hopefully being closer to its own cultural origins will result in not only a faithful adaptation, but a solid piece of entertainment even for newcomers.
It's still unclear what viewers can expect, especially over a year out from release. However, it looks as though Netflix is gearing up to start slowly revealing more info in the near future. Here's hoping it gets a fair shake.
Neftlix's Yu Yu Hakusho is set to premiere in the winter of 2023.
Source: Netflix Anime/Twitter