Netflix has announced that the brand-new live-action series, "Parasyte -TAMIYA-," will exclusively premiere globally in 2027. This adaptation of Hitoshi Iwaaki's timeless masterpiece, "Parasyte," takes a fresh approach unlike previous adaptations. It will center on the iconic parasitic organism, "Ryoko Tamiya," telling an all-new original story from her unique perspective.
Yeon Sang-ho, the acclaimed Korean director behind Netflix's "Parasyte: The Grey" and "Gasman No. 1," serves as the planner and screenwriter. The lead role of Ryoko Tamiya will be portrayed by Shioli Kutsuna.
"Parasyte," which began serialization in 1988 and concluded over 30 years ago in 1995, remains one of Japan's most iconic sci-fi manga.
"Parasyte -TAMIYA-" shifts its focus to the popular character Ryoko Tamiya from the original work. Originally a high school teacher, she becomes a parasitic organism after being infected. While initially cold and hostile towards humans, her interactions with Shinichi Izumi, Migi, and human society gradually lead her to question whether parasitic organisms truly need to coexist with humans to survive. The new series will revolve around her journey to understand "coexistence between humans and parasites," reconstructing a story never before explored in the original manga.
▼ Ryoko Tamiya as she appeared in the "Parasyte" anime
In 2024, Netflix's Korean series "Parasyte: The Grey," a reinterpretation of the "Parasyte" universe by Yeon Sang-ho, spent four consecutive weeks on Netflix's Global Top 10 for non-English series and hit #1 in 34 countries. Now, Yeon Sang-ho teams up with Netflix once again to further expand the "Parasyte" universe into Japan.
Shioli Kutsuna, who plays Ryoko Tamiya, has been active in the international film scene in recent years, starring in Netflix's "Sanctuary" and as the popular character Yukio in "Deadpool 2." Kutsuna expressed, "Ryoko Tamiya is the most challenging role of my acting career so far." She revealed that during the six-month filming period, she constantly encountered new emotions and insights, not only growing as an actress but also gaining significant inspiration in her outlook on life.
In this series, she must portray Ryoko Tamiya before being infected, the cold and brutal parasitic Ryoko, and the conflicted Ryoko who begins to contemplate coexistence with humans.
Yeon Sang-ho highly praised Kutsuna's acting, stating, "Shioli Kutsuna perfectly embodies how a non-human life form gradually comes to understand humanity and its own existence. Her performance is astonishing."
When asked why he chose Tamiya as the protagonist, Yeon Sang-ho explained, "Ryoko Tamiya is an incredibly captivating antagonist in the original work. Her continuous contemplation of her own existence elevates 'Parasyte' from a shonen manga into a philosophically profound work." He believes that the core of "Parasyte" lies in Tamiya's ongoing exploration of whether parasites and humans can coexist, and her pain and struggles through constant failures, discoveries, and understandings are the true essence of this work.
The production team for "Parasyte -TAMIYA-" includes:
Planning, Screenwriter: Yeon Sang-ho
Screenwriter: Ryu Yong-jae
Directors: Kensaku Kakimoto, Kazuhiro Nakagawa
Production Planning: WOWPOINT (Korea)
Production Company: Episcope
Director Kensaku Kakimoto is known for his musical and visual aesthetics, while Kazuhiro Nakagawa excels in narrative development, action sequences, and VFX direction. The collaboration of these two directors with distinct styles is a major highlight of this production. "Parasyte -TAMIYA-" is slated for a global exclusive release on Netflix sometime in 2027. Fans interested should definitely keep an eye out for more updates!
via： NEXFLIX JAPAN