Takashi Miike`s TERRAFORMARS Press Notes

Internationally renowned filmmaker Takashi Miike is back with TERRAFORMARS, the live-action adaptation of the hit manga. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Japan. © YU SASUGA, KENICHI TACHIBANA/SHUEISHA, © 2016

Source: Warner Bros. Pictures Japan, GAGA Corporation Official Movie Site: terraformars-movie.jp (Japan)

The live-action manga adaptation TERRAFORMARS (????????, Terafoomaazu) was released by Warner Bros. Pictures Japan on April 29th and is now being offered to foreign distributors by GAGA Corporation. Introduction The battle between mankind and evolved creatures begins! Master filmmaker Takashi Miike (13 ASSASSINS, SUKIYAKI WESTERN DJANGO) comes back to the big screen with a sci-fi action film where a team of crew members battle against evolved cockroaches on Mars. The film is based on the best-selling comic series Terraformars, which has been published worldwide and also turned into an animation series (the second season is running in 2016). The crew on the mission are played by an ensemble cast including Hideaki Ito (LESSON OF THE EVIL, SUKIYAKI WESTERN DJANGO), Emi Takei (RUROUNI KENSHIN series, FOR LOVE`S SAKE), Tomohisa Yamashita (TOMORROW`S JOE, THE BLACK SWINDLER) and Takayuki Yamada (13 ASSASSINS, CROWS series). Shun Oguri (CROWS series) appears as a mysterious mad scientist. Story In 2599, Shokichi Komachi (Hideaki Ito) takes responsibility for the crime of murder to protect Nanao Akita (Emi Takei), the girl he has grown up with in the slums and cares for. In a deal which would allow Shokichi and Nanao to avoid a conviction and also receive a lavish reward, they agree to be a part of a top secret mission -- the Terraforming Project. 500 years ago, to resolve the population explosion on Earth, cockroaches were sent to Mars with mosses to make the atmosphere habitable for humankind. Now the mission is to exterminate the roaches and colonize Mars. 15 destitute people from all walks of life have been assembled for the task. They land on Mars with hopes of a better future that awaits them once the mission is completed and they are rewarded. However, the moment Shokichi sets foto on Mars, he finds out that cockroaches have evolved into huge creatures with unbelievable strength and mercilessly attack humans. In the midst of this danger, Shokichi is informed that all the crew members have actually undergone an operation to fight against the humanoid cockroaches. With this power, Shokichi and the crew members struggle to defeat those bugs with the hope of returning to Earth.

About the Original Comic The comic series Terraformars is written by Yu Sasuga and illustrated by Kenichi Tachibana. Since 2011, it has been serialized in Weekly Young Jump magazine by Shueisha Inc. The series is very popular, having sold over 14 million copies in Japan and seeing release in 17 countries. An animated series debuted in 2014.

Director Takashi Miike Born 1960 in Osaka, Japan. In 2000, his psychological horror film AUDITION (???????, Odishon, 1999) won the FIPRESCI prize and the KNF Award at Rotterdam International Film Festival and his name became widely known internationally. ICHI THE KILLER (???1, Koroshiya 1) was premiered internationally at Toronto International Film Festival in 2001. GOZU (??????? ?? GOZU, Gokudoo Kyoofu Dai-gekijoo: Gozu, 2003) received Best Visual Effects and 13 ASSASSINS (??????, Juusan-nin no Shikaku, 2010) won the Audience Award at Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival and was hugely praised by the audience. In 2013, SHIELD OF STRAW (???, Wara no Tate) premiered at Cannes International Film Festival. AS THE GODS WILL (?????????, Kamisama no Iuoori, 2014) won the Maverick Director Award at Rome International Film Festival.

Credits World Premiere: April 23, 2016 (Okinawa International Movie Festival) Japanese Theatrical Release: Friday, April 29, 2016 Cast Shokichi Komachi: Hideaki Ito Nanao Akita: Emi Takei Jin Muto: Tomohisa Yamashita Ichiro Hiruma: Takayuki Yamada God Lee: Kane Kosugi Asuka Moriki: Rinko Kikuchi Keisuke Dojima: Masaya Kato Mina Obari: Eiko Koike Sorae Osako: Mariko Shinoda Shunji Tezuka: Kenichi Takito Maria Renjou: Rina Ota Sakakibara: Rila Fukushima Ko Honda: Shun Oguri Crew Director: Takashi Miike Original Comic by: Yu Sasuga and Kenichi Tachibana Writer: Kazuki Nakashima Producers: Misako Saka, Shigeji Maeda Cinematographer: Hideo Yamamoto Music: Koji Endo Production: "TERRAFORMARS" FILM PARTNERS Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures Japan World Sales: GAGA Corporation © YU SASUGA, KENICHI TACHIBANA/SHUEISHA, © 2016 "TERRAFORMARS" FILM PARTNERS