‘Gintama’ Live-Action Sequel Is About To Get Underway

Gintama fans are going to have a rough year, but at least there’s a silver lining. The manga may be reaching the climax of its final arc sooner than you think, and the anime adaptation recently began this final arc, but at least there will be new Gintama to come on the horizon.

A sequel to the Gintama live-action adaptation was announced to be released sometime this year, and now production has officially begun on the sequel.

Director Yuichi Fukuda is returning to film the sequel, along with the film’s star Shun Oguri, and he seems to be a bit nervous about the undertaking since it’s been awhile since he’s directed a film. But the sequel’s script appears to be completed, as the live-action sequel gears up for its release in the Summer this year.

The first Gintama live-action film opened in Japan on July 14 and earned about $8.9 million USD in its first four days of release. Film distributor Azoland Pictures has partnered with Well Go USA and has announced they’ll be screening the live-action Gintama film in theaters in both the United States and Canada January 19.

The live-action film opened in Japan on July 14 and earned about $8.9 million USD in its first four days of release. The reception was so positive, it inspired a live-action webseries on Japan’s Docomo dTV service one day after the film’s release. The film has already screened in Canada at the Fantasia International Film Festival and will soon screen in other regions.

Well Go USA has also announced they will be releasing the film on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD in North America on March 6.

Hideaki Sorachi’s Gintama is one of the most popular manga series in Japan with 50 million copies printed since it began in 2004. It has gained fame among fans online with its balance of humor, drama, and action while still jokingly referencing other popular Shonen Jumpseries like Dragon Ball. Its largely episodic nature has been a hit with fans, especially when it dives into longer story arcs like the final “Silver Soul” arc.

The series has seen different forms since its initial anime run from 2006 to 2010, with a second series airing from 2011 to 2013 with sporadic hiatuses in-between, a third series running from 2015 to 2016, two feature-length animated films, a few OVAs, and even a live action film releasing in Japan last July.

Gintama has recently teased some kind of crossover project with fellow Weekly Shonen Jumpgag manga, The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. Which is getting ready to air the second season of its anime as well.

Gintama Season 4 recently began airing on October 1 with the “Porori” arc, and you can currently find subbed episodes on Crunchyroll. The “Silver Soul” arc, which will serve as the series’ final story, began airing January 7.