Netflix Partners With Japan’s Toho to Reboot Sci-Fi Classic ‘The Human Vapor’

As a lifelong fan of Japanese cinema and a connoisseur of sci-fi masterpieces, I am absolutely thrilled about the upcoming reimagining of “The Human Vapor” by Netflix and Toho Studios! The creative team behind this project is nothing short of brilliant, with the likes of Yeon Sang-ho and Shinzo Katayama at the helm. Their unique perspectives and artistic visions promise to breathe new life into a classic tale that has captivated audiences for decades.

The iconic Japanese sci-fi production, “The Human Vapor,” initially directed by Ishirō Honda – the brilliant mind behind Godzilla – and released in 1960, is set for a modern revival as a live-action series. This exciting reinterpretation will be jointly produced by Netflix and Toho Studios, marking their first collaborative project together.

As a lover of international cinema, I am thrilled by the announcement that a new series is being co-helmed by a dynamic Korean-Japanese creative team. With my extensive background in watching and analyzing films from both countries, I can confidently say this collaboration promises an exceptional blend of storytelling and visuals.

In the third and concluding movie of Toho’s iconic “Transforming Human Series” from the 1950s and 1960s sci-fi realm, titled “The Human Vapor“, we find a narrative about an ordinary man transformed into a mutant by a faulty radiation test. This newfound gaseous being resorts to bank robberies and commits heinous crimes, all while backing a struggling dancer he admires financially. The film is widely recognized as an early pioneer in the sci-fi thriller category, praised for its groundbreaking special effects and insightful commentary on power dynamics and societal suppression.

In the updated version of this series, the story is moved to contemporary Japan and uses advanced visual effects to bring back to life the legendary humanoid monsters known as kaijin.

Yeon shares that Toho offered him the opportunity to re-create one of their films from the “Transforming Humans Collection,” and among all, “The Human Vapor” particularly appealed to him.

“He points out that the movie was made in the 1960s, yet its use of science fiction elements remains remarkably advanced. He thinks that if it were updated with contemporary graphics, it would be incredibly captivating.”

Toho proposed Katayama as a possible candidate for the project’s director, and subsequently, they (Katayama and Ryu Yong-jae) worked together for approximately three years on developing the story for the update, alongside co-writer Ryu Yong-jae.

Katayama remarked: “I’d heard of ‘The Human Vapor’, but only just watched it recently. It caught my attention with its unique mix of human emotion and romantic undertones, even though it features an unconventional character like the Human Vapor. I believe that by updating this timeless special effects production using modern VFX CG and emphasizing human drama, we could create a truly captivating piece.”

According to Yeon and Katayama, it’s likely that the upcoming series won’t hit screens for at least a year. However, they hinted at an exciting development: they’ve been given exclusive permission to film in restricted locations within Japan, which is typically off-limits for shooting.

“I believe we will deliver visuals that have never been seen before,” Katayama added.

Following its success in the Korean film and TV market, Netflix has been aiming to tap into the untapped live-action entertainment potential of Japan for the last two years. This endeavor includes fostering collaboration between Korean and Japanese creative teams. Some of the upcoming collaborative projects from Netflix include the drama titled “Romantic Anonymous” (working title) and the gay romance “Soul Mate.”

2024-08-08 04:54

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