Terraformers" to produce a live-action drama version, a prequel to the live-action film version!　Depicts the psychological battle at the Mars-bound aptitude test

TERRAFORMARS" has announced a new visual for the live-action film version and the production of a live-action drama.

TERRAFORMARS" is an anime work based on a manga serialized in Weekly Young Jump. Set on Mars in the future, it is a science fiction story about mankind's battle against the surprisingly evolved cockroaches, and has also been made into an OVA and a live-action movie. The original comics have sold more than 14 million copies, and the second TV anime season, "Terraformers: Revenge," will begin in April 2016. The main staff has been drastically changed from the OVA version and the first season of the TV series. The director is Michio Fukuda of "Hyakko," the series composition is by Toshihisa Arakawa of "Wolf and Spice," and the animation production is by Leiden Film, which continued from the first season, and the new TYO Animations.

A new visual for the live-action film version (directed by Takashi Miike), which will be released on April 29, has been completed. The main character, Kokichi Komachi played by Hideaki Ito, and the crew of Bugs #2 are lined up in a row, with the worst enemy in history, Terraformer, reigning overhead. At the center of the group is Dr. Akira Honda, played by Shun Oguri, with a fearless smile on his face, who is believed to hold the key to the story.

The live-action drama "Terraformers: A New Hope" will also be produced. It will be distributed exclusively on the video distribution service "dTV" (http://video.dmkt-sp.jp/ft/s0004377) from April 24, one day earlier than the movie. Set at a research facility that conducts aptitude tests to determine who is suitable to board the Bugs 2, the film is said to be a prequel to the movie, and depicts the betrayal and deception among the applicants for a trip to Mars, as they vie for the concessions they can obtain by going to Mars. The film reveals the mystery of why the "chosen 15 Earthlings" were chosen, a mystery that was not depicted in the film or the original story. Of course, the film was shot on the same sets as the movie to recreate the world view, and the story was supervised by Takashi Miike. The director is Yoshitaka Yamaguchi. In addition to the cast of the film version, including Hideaki Ito, Emi Takei, Mariko Shinoda, Rinko Kikuchi, and Masaya Kato, the original cast includes Kento Hayashi, Tetsuya Sugaya, Takemi Fujii, and Saki Takaoka.

Comment from Hideaki Ito (lead actor)
--Please comment on the dTV original drama "Terraformers: A New Hope".
The character I played, "Shokichi," is a very straightforward, pure, and passionate man. But I thought his purity and passion were cool even from a man's point of view. The setting of "trying to go to Mars in a world 500 years from now" is special, but it is a very dreamy story. I had to stretch my imagination a lot, which was both fun and difficult, but I let the director take care of it and followed his lead. I am looking forward to seeing how well it will translate to the rest of the world. Please look forward to it!

Yoshitaka Yamaguchi (Director) comment
--What differentiates the dTV original drama from the movie?
What did the crew of Bugs 2 do... and what did they think after the "operation with a 30% success rate (Bugs Operation)"? The film attempted to further intensify the kaleidoscopic writhing emotions of their frustration and rage in the confined space by bumping up against the original cast.
--Please give us your passionate enthusiasm for the dTV original drama "Terraformers: A New Hope" in a few words.
If possible, I wanted to undergo "a surgery with a 30% success rate (Bugs Operation). Without being reborn at the cellular level, we cannot face this world (Terraformers). Only those who "change" can survive. Then the only thing you can bet on is your own life.

Takashi Miike (supervisor) comments
--What are your thoughts on the big project of "Terraformers" being made into a movie by dTV and the movie itself?
I am nervous about the reckless challenge of making a complete live-action adaptation of "Terraformers. However, now that we have started the project, we will not back down one step. The movie and dTV will complement each other to present a story of "epic battles" and "intense love. Enjoy!
--Please give us your passionate enthusiasm for the dTV original drama "Terraformers: A New Hope" in a few words.
I'm going to return alive! ...... That's all I have to say."

Yuu Kike (original story) comment
--Please comment on the dTV original drama "Terraformers: A New Hope".
This is like "Terraformers 1" in the movie version...! Nori to ramen...! Wasabi for soy sauce...! If you watch it together with the movie, you will definitely enjoy the taste twice as much!

Kenichi Tachibana (original story) comment
--Please comment on the dTV original drama "Terraformers: A New Hope".
It is a human drama before the members go to Mars. It depicts a part of the story that I myself am interested in, so I am looking forward to the broadcast from now on. And the dTV version also has a gorgeous cast...I want to be scolded by Saki Takaoka too.

<Story of the movie version
In the 21st century, the human race has chosen to emigrate to Mars in response to the population explosion. The human race tried to turn Mars into an Earth by sending moss and "a certain creature" to Mars. Five hundred years have passed since then. Fifteen members of a team were sent to Mars to finish the project, and their mission was to exterminate the creature. The members decided to join the team for the easy job and high pay, but only Komachi Shokichi (Ito Hideaki) decided to go to Mars to accompany his childhood friend Nanao (Takei Emi), who volunteered on her own. When they arrive on Mars, however, the story is completely different! ＜A certain creature has transformed into a terraformer, an astonishing creature that has evolved into a humanoid form, and its ferocious nature attacks the team members one after another. The situation is desperate. However, their bodies are equipped with a secret plan that even they are unaware of! Will the humans be able to overcome the unexpected creatures they have created and return to earth alive?

<Story of the Drama Version
Just before the departure to Mars - Candidates with a high rate of suitability for the Mars environment adaptation surgery undergo a final aptitude test in order to be selected as one of only 15 people who can go to Mars. All the candidates decide to go to Mars to get out of their shitty lives. The protagonist, Shokichi (Ito), does it for a new life with his childhood friend Nanao (Takei). Some to make amends with their wives and children, and some for a conspiracy that will never be revealed... They fight to be chosen as one of the 15, betraying and entrapping their friends. Then they face the failure of their conformity surgery and a glimpse of their newfound power. Who will be able to land on Mars?