Filming is underway on City Hunter 2 for Netflix, marking the first-ever sequel to a Netflix film from Japan.
Returning cast include Ryohei Suzuki as gun-for-hire Ryo Saeba, Misato Morita as Kaori Makimura, his partner, and Fumino Kimura as sharp-tongued detective Saeko Nogami. It is set to debut on the streaming platform in 2027.
The sequel is directed by Keiichiro Shiraki and written by Junpei Yamaoka. Netflix said the film will “further explore and elevate the world of the beloved original manga”.
The film is produced by HoriPro Inc. and Film-makers Inc. for Netflix, with producers Misato Kono, Miyoshi Kikuchi, Tomoo Tsuchii and Shinya Miyazaki.
Based on Tsukasa Hojo’s manga of the same name, which has sold more than 50 million copies, the first live-action film premiered on Netflix in 2024. It sent sales of the original manga up by 900% and generated an economic impact of about $810,000 (¥129m) in Kobe through location shoots at industrial heritage sites.
The film debuted top of Netflix’s global top 10 for non-English language films for the week of April 22-28, entering the top 10 in 32 countries, including Japan, France, South Korea, Hong Kong and Brazil.
City Hunter 2 continues the story of Ryo Saeba, an elite “sweeper” based in Shinjuku who takes on dangerous jobs from the criminal underworld. While he’s goofy around beautiful women, he becomes a consummate professional once on the job, executing missions with marksmanship, physical ability, and a calm, analytical mind.
Shinichi Takahashi, Netflix’s director of live-action creative for Japan, said: “Following the tremendous response to the previous film, we are truly delighted to bring you the first-ever sequel to a Netflix film from Japan. Filming is already underway, and with deep respect for Tsukasa Hojo’s iconic original work, Ryohei Suzuki, Misato Morita, and the entire cast, along with the director and crew, are bringing this new instalment to life with an even greater level of passion than before.”
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