A live-action television adaptation for Hiroshi Takahashi’s QP gang manga has been green-lit for an October premiere. Actor Takumi Saitou (2011’s Hana-Kimi, Space Battleship Yamato, live-action Phoenix Wright) will star as Ryō Azuma. Takashi Miike (Crows Zero, Nintama Rantarō, Yatterman) will direct the series which will premiere on October 5 on NTV.
Background Info:
Mainichi Shimbun’s Mantan Web has photos of Saitou in his role. The original manga centered around a neighborhood’s most powerful former gangster named “QP” or Kotori Ishida, but the live-action version is a side story that will focus on Ryō, Ishida’s close friend with hidden ambitions.Saitou replaces Sousuke Takaoka (Battle Royale, Crows Zero), who had to withdraw from entertainment ties after making controversial comments on Twitter about the Korean wave of entertainment that has become popular in Japan.Takahashi’s Crows manga was adapted into two live-action prequel films directed by Miike: Crows Zero in 2007 and Crows Zero 2 in 2009.
Source: ANN