Moviegoers in Japan can expect renowned director Hiyao Miyazaki’s 1979 Lupin III film, The Castle Of Cagliostro, to be re-released with a new digital remastering as soon as May 9, with other territories to follow suit. This week, however, it was during a recent exclusive TBS morning broadcast that the first footage from Azumi (2003) director Ryuhei Kitamura’s own upcoming live action adaptation of the initial Monkey Punch manga went public, featuring lead actor and fellow Azumi co-star Shun Ogiri in the title role.

The teaser footage also comes after roughly a year of some heavily active speculation regarding the possibility of the acclaimed filmmaker returning to helm a much-desired sequel to his 2000 cult favorite, Versus. I’ve been a fan of Kitamura since college, and I can’t wait to see what happens next with his career in directing. And by all means, if Kitamura still supports the idea of an American remake of said film, that’s fine by me, but as long as he’s the one in the director’s seat. Until then, I’ll take what I can get, and I look forward to Lupin III when it comes out following its Japan release beginning August 30.

Lupin III also reunites Kitamura and Ogiri with fellow Azumi scribe Mataichiro Yamamoto for the screenplay, and also stars Tetsuji Tamayama as Daisuke Jigen, actress Go Ayano as Goemon Ishikawa, actor Tadanobu Asano as Detective Kōichi Zenigata, and Meisa Kuroki as Fujiko Mine. Jerry Yan, South Korean singer Kim Joon and Thailand actor Thanayong Wongtrakul round out the cast.

SYNOPSIS:
Lupin, Jigen, Goemon, Fujiko, and Zenigata come together for the first time as Lupin and his crew attempt to steal the “Crimson Heart of Cleopatra” which is held in a giant high-security safe called the “Ark of Navarone”.