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Takashi Miike is a prolific Japanese filmmaker with over 100 films and television production credits. Now in his 60s, he is still making movies just as vibrant and outlandish as ever, often filled with grotesque violence. In 2017, he made the feature-length adaptation of Hiroaki Samura’s popular manga series, “Blade of the Immortal” (Original title: Mugen no jûninc). Miike’s samurai action film follows the immortal samurai Manji, who decides to help orphaned Rin Asano seek revenge against those who brutally killed her parents. Takuya Kimura stars in the central role of Manji whereas Hana Sugisaki plays vengeful Rin Asano. The film is available to stream on Netflix in select countries.

Spoilers Ahead

Blade of the Immortal (2017) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:

Takashi Miike’s “Blade of the Immortal” follows immortal fighter Manji helping Rin Asano seek vengeance for the sudden, unfortunate death of her parents. It’s a Samurai action thriller...

Exclusive: Here’s first-footage of Paris-set chef drama Grande Maison Paris, the standalone feature spinoff from the world of Japanese hit series La Grande Maison: Tokyo.

Set in the high stakes world of Parisian culinary excellence, the film is led by Japanese star Takuya Kimura (Blade of the Immortal) reprising his lead role from the series, and popular Korean actor and rapper from band2PM Ok Taec-yeon (Hansan: Rising Dragon).

Three Michelin star Japanese chef Kei Kobayashi (of Paris restaurant Kei) created the film’s cuisine. Pic gets its world premiere at the upcoming San Sebastián Film Festival.

Toho will release in Japan. Sony Pictures International Productions will release in France, with London and Paris-based finance, production and sales company Film Constellation handling international sales.

The official synopsis reads: “Famous Japanese chef Obana (Takuya Kimura) opens a new restaurant in Paris in the quest for his elusive third Michelin star.

Hayao Miyazaki's first feature in 10 years crept into theaters with a bang. After many years of a wish-washy retirement, the 83-year old director of beloved Studio Ghibli titles like “Spirited Away” and “Princess Mononoke” returned with his beautifully animated “The Boy and the Heron.” Notably, though the film appeared in Japanese theaters sans PR (a deliberate choice on Miyazaki's end), the movie has taken the world by storm. I personally have been hearing about it since the day of its premiere: first, friends reporting back on their summer Japan travels; then other journalists at TIFF; and finally, within vicinity, from neighbors and colleagues near me, as the film scoops the coveted No. 1 spot in the North American box office. With Gkids' North American release hitting the high of the holidays, it is almost no wonder that film critics have been tittering about “The Boy and the Heron's” potential...

Acclaimed filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki’s Japanese film The Boy and the Heron flew to a record-breaking $12.8 million opening, making it the first original anime title in history to top the North American box office chart.

The whimsical movie — which earned Miyazaki his first Golden Globe nomination on Monday — wisely chose to open on a weekend when there were no new wide releases from the major Hollywood studios. The first and second weekends of December are generally quiet as the studios prepare to unwrap their big Christmas films.

This year, the holiday action gets underway in earnest next weekend when Warner Bros. opens Wonka, although it debuted in select markets overseas this weekend to a very promising $43.2 million from 37 markets, enough to rank No. 1 on the weekend global weekend chart.

The Boy and the Heron shattered other records as well, including already becoming Miyazaki’s top-grossing film domestically after earning $5.6 million on Friday from 2,205 theaters,...

As the yin-yang decal on our yoga teacher’s Subaru Crosstrek reminds us thrice a week, every natural force or entity has its perfect mirror inverse. And so, just as during the summer we escaped to movie theaters in order to cool down from record high temps, the temperature extremes caused by climate collapse now drive us back to those same movie theaters for warmth, nursing our frigid tootsies at the hearth of the annual awards season dump of very exciting Don’t-Miss Indies. But Tldr; Happy Holidays!

Eileen

When You Can Watch: Now

Where You Can Watch: Theaters

Director: William Oldroyd

Cast: Thomasin McKenzie, Anne Hathaway, Shea Whigham, Marin Ireland

Why We’re Excited: Described as “wildly audacious, wondrously twisted” and “deliciously deranged” by Jessica Kiang in her review for Variety, director William Oldroyd’s sophomore feature after 2018’s Lady MacBeth (nominated for a Film Independent Spirit Award for...

Clockwise from bottom left: The Color Purple (Warner Bros.), Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom (Warner Bros.), Ferrari (Neon), and Wonka (Warner Bros.)Graphic: The A.V. Club

December has always been one of the most important moviegoing months of the year; you’ve got all the prestige pics competing for Oscar nominations,...

On Tuesday, October 31, 2023, at 9:00 Pm on the CW, “The Swarm” brings viewers its eighth episode, succinctly titled “Episode 8.” The latest installment continues to unravel the show’s mysteries.

In this episode, a character named Mifune arrives via helicopter to inspect the research results aboard the Thorvaldson. This visit holds great significance as it may provide crucial insights into the enigmatic swarm of creatures that has been central to the series.

Meanwhile, the storyline delves into the challenges faced by a character named Charlie. Confronted with a seemingly impossible situation, Charlie is compelled to make a significant decision, one that appears to be made in isolation, described as a “lonely decision.”

As “The Swarm” unfolds, it maintains its gripping narrative and suspenseful elements, keeping the audience eagerly awaiting each new episode. Tune in to see how the characters navigate the complex and mysterious world of the show.

Release Date & Time:...

Join the adventure in Episode 7 of “The Swarm” on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, at 9:00 Pm on The CW. On this thrilling journey, the Thorvaldson heads towards the Arctic as Leon and Crowe set out to find a way to communicate with the mysterious Yrr.

In this episode, diving robotics expert Luther Roscovitz and Charlie take a submarine into the deep waters, delving into the unknown depths of the sea. Their exploration promises to reveal secrets hidden beneath the surface.

But the excitement doesn’t end there. Alicia Delaware, a member of the team, notices something unusual – a strange glow in the pool. What could this mysterious phenomenon mean for the crew and their mission?

“The Swarm” continues to keep viewers on the edge of their seats as it unravels the mysteries of the deep sea and the intriguing Yrr. Don’t miss this captivating episode that promises more adventure and discovery.

On Tuesday, October 17, 2023, at 9:00 Pm on CW, viewers can catch the latest episode of “The Swarm,” titled “Episode 6.” In this episode, Charlie and Sigur make their way back to Kiel. Meanwhile, a crucial Un meeting takes place in Geneva, where Dr. Roche delivers a warning about a potential global threat to drinking water supplies.

As the storyline unfolds, viewers can expect to witness the ongoing developments in the show’s narrative. “The Swarm” has been keeping audiences engaged with its intriguing plotline centered around environmental and ecological challenges.

In this episode, the focus is on the characters’ return to Kiel and the critical meeting in Geneva, where Dr. Roche’s prediction could have far-reaching implications. As the drama continues to unfold, viewers are encouraged to tune in and follow the story’s progression.

For those who have been following “The Swarm” and its exploration of ecological issues, this episode...

The CW’s dramatic thriller The Swarm continues season one with episode four, “The Mystery.” Directed by Barbara Eder from a script by Steven Lally, Marissa Lestrade, Chris Lunt, and Michael A. Walker, this exclusive clip shows a South African town under attack by crabs marching out of the sea.

Episode four airs on October 3, 2023. New season one episodes arrive on Tuesdays at 9pm Et/Pt.

The ecological thriller is based on Frank Schätzing’s bestselling novel and stars Alexander Karim as Dr. Sigur Johanson, Cécile de France as Dr. Cécile Roche, and Krista Kosonen as Tina Lund. The ensemble also includes Leonie Benesch as Charlie Wagner, Joshua Odjick as Leon Anawak, Takehiro Hira as Riku Sato, and Rosabell Laurenti Sellers as Alicia Delaware.

Barbara Sukowa is Professor Katharina Lehmann, Oliver Masucci is Jasper Alban, Klaas Heufer-Umlauf is Luther Roscowitz, Lydia Wilson is Sara Thompson, Eidin Jalali is Rahim Amir,...

On Tuesday, October 10, 2023, at 9:00 Pm, CW will air the fifth episode of “The Swarm,” titled “Episode 5.” This episode continues to follow the scientific investigation into a mysterious bacterium found in crabs that have invaded coastlines worldwide.

In this installment, Dr. Roche makes a crucial discovery, detecting the same bacterium in crabs from various parts of the globe. Meanwhile, Professor Lehmann delivers unsettling news to Sigur. As the intrigue deepens, Tina persuades Sigur to join her on a trip to Geneva. Their mission: to investigate whether ice worms, similar to the mysterious bacterium, have been discovered in other seas.

“The Swarm” is a captivating series that delves into the scientific exploration of a global ecological crisis. With each episode, the mystery surrounding these invasive species unravels further, keeping viewers engaged and eager to learn more about the unfolding scientific discoveries. Don’t miss the next installment of “The Swarm” on CW.

On Tuesday, 3rd October 2023, at 9:00 Pm on CW, viewers can catch Season 1, Episode 4 of “The Swarm.” In this episode, titled “Episode 4,” Dr. Roche plays a crucial role by providing information to a commission about the urgent situation on the French Atlantic coast.

The episode also follows the journey of Sigur and Tina, who return to the Thorvaldson to conduct a survey of the seabed. Their mission is to assess the presence and spread of ice worms in the area. As they explore, they make a discovery that the ice worms have continued to expand their territory.

“The Swarm” is a series that focuses on the escalating challenges posed by ice worms and their impact on various aspects of life. It’s a straightforward and informative show that explores the consequences of this natural phenomenon in a clear and accessible way.

Tune in to “The Swarm: Episode 4” to learn more...

Vulture Watch

Something is looking for a bit of payback. Has The Swarm TV show been cancelled or renewed for a second season on The CW? The television vulture is watching all the latest cancellation and renewal news, so this page is the place to track the status of The Swarm, season two. Bookmark it, or subscribe for the latest updates. Remember, the television vulture is watching your shows. Are you?  

What's This TV Show About?

A science fiction series airing on The CW television network, The Swarm TV show stars Alexander Karim, Cécile de France, Leonie Benesch, Joshua Odjick, Takehiro Hira, Krista Kosonen, Rosabell Laurenti Sellers, Barbara Sukowa, Oliver Masucci, Klaas Heufer-Umlauf, Eidin Jalali, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Takuya Kimura, Jack Greenlees, Dutch Johnson, Franziska Weisz, Lydia Wilson, Andrea Guo, Claudia Jurt, Elizabeth Kinnear, and David Vormweg. In the story, strange...

Amazon is diving into The Swarm, snatching up rights for its Prime Video service across sub-Saharan Africa for the ecological thriller from Game of Thrones producer Frank Doelger.

The limited series, adapted from Frank Schätzing’s international best-seller, tells the story of a series of escalating disasters emerging from the world’s oceans. As scientists around the globe rush to discover their cause, it becomes clear that there is something bigger at play: an intelligent life force, dwelling in the deeps that is manipulating all life below the surface.

Barbara Eder (Barbarians, Concordia), Luke Watson (Ripper Street) and Philipp Stölzl (The Physician) directed the series, which features an ensemble cast including Alexander Karim (Dying of the Light), Cécile de France (The New Pope), Leonie Benesch (Babylon Berlin, The Crown), Barbara Sukowa (Hannah Arendt) and Takuya Kimura (2046, I Come With The Rain). Doelger produced through his Intaglio Films, together with Eric Welbers,...

Updated with latest: The Toronto Film Festival began September 7 in Ontario with opening-night movie The Boy and the Heron, from Oscar-winning filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki. It kicked off a lineup for the fest’s 48th edition that included world premieres of GameStop pic Dumb Money, Netflix’s Pain Hustlers, Taika Waititi’s Next Goal Wins, Kristin Scott Thomas’ Scarlett Johansson pic North Star, Chris Pine’s Poolman, Michael Keaton-directed Knox Goes Away, Anna Kendrick’s Woman of the Hour, Atom Egoyan’s Seven Veils, Michael Winterbottom’s Shoshana, Grant Singer’s Reptile, Viggo Mortensen’s The Dead Don’t Hurt, Lee Tamahori’s The Convert and Alex Gibney’s doc In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon.

It ended Sunday when Cord Jefferson’s satire American Fiction won TIFF’s People’s Choice Award for best film, usually a steppingstone to a strong awards season to come.

The fest also...

The Swarm TV series was produced overseas and was the most expensive German TV production (produced in English) of all time. Unfortunately, expense doesn't always translate into big ratings. The CW is now focusing on airing acquired and low-cost programming and has pulled shows that have drawn low ratings. Even if a second season is made, there's no guarantee that the network will pick it up. Will The Swarm be cancelled or renewed? Stay tuned.

A science fiction series, The Swarm TV show stars Alexander Karim, Cécile de France, Leonie Benesch, Joshua Odjick, Takehiro Hira, Krista Kosonen, Rosabell Laurenti Sellers, Barbara Sukowa, Oliver Masucci, Klaas Heufer-Umlauf, Eidin Jalali, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Takuya Kimura, Jack Greenlees, Dutch Johnson, Franziska Weisz, Lydia Wilson, Andrea Guo, Claudia Jurt, Elizabeth Kinnear, and David Vormweg. In the story, strange things are happening in the world’s oceans -- whales are destroying boats,...

A mysterious force is at work in the first season of the The Swarm TV show on The CW. As we all know, Nielsen ratings typically play a big role in determining whether a TV show like The Swarm is cancelled or renewed for season two. Unfortunately, most of us do not live in Nielsen households. Because many viewers feel frustrated when their viewing habits and opinions aren't considered, we invite you to rate all of the first season episodes of The Swarm here.

A science fiction series on The CW, The Swarm TV show stars Alexander Karim, Cécile de France, Leonie Benesch, Joshua Odjick, Takehiro Hira, Krista Kosonen, Rosabell Laurenti Sellers, Barbara Sukowa, Oliver Masucci, Klaas Heufer-Umlauf, Eidin Jalali, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Takuya Kimura, Jack Greenlees, Dutch Johnson, Franziska Weisz, Lydia Wilson, Andrea Guo, Claudia Jurt, Elizabeth Kinnear, and David Vormweg.

Network: The CW

Episodes: Ongoing (hour)

Seasons: Ongoing

TV show dates: September 12, 2023 -- present

Series status: Has not been cancelled

Performers include: Alexander Karim, Cécile de France, Leonie Benesch, Joshua Odjick, Takehiro Hira, Krista Kosonen, Rosabell Laurenti Sellers, Barbara Sukowa, Oliver Masucci, Klaas Heufer-Umlauf, Eidin Jalali, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Takuya Kimura, Jack Greenlees, Dutch Johnson, Franziska Weisz, Lydia Wilson, Andrea Guo, Claudia Jurt, Elizabeth Kinnear, and David Vormweg.

TV show description:      

A science fiction series, The Swarm TV show is based on the novel by Frank Schätzing and was the most expensive German TV production of all time.

In the story, strange things are happening in the world's oceans -- whales are destroying boats, deep sea crabs are attacking beaches, mussels are blocking container ships, and...

The Swarm‘s already been released internationally, but now U.S. audiences will have the opportunity to watch the dramatic thriller beginning September 12, 2023 on The CW. The network picked up the event series to help fill a gap in a primetime lineup that once was packed with comic book-inspired action-dramas.

Episode one was directed by Luke Watson and written by Steven Lally, Marissa Lestrade, Chris Lunt, and Michael A. Walker. New episodes of the eight-episode ecological thriller will air on Tuesdays at 9pm Et/Pt.

Based on Frank Schätzing’s bestselling novel, The Swarm stars Alexander Karim as Dr. Sigur Johanson, Cécile de France as Dr. Cécile Roche, Leonie Benesch as Charlie Wagner, Joshua Odjick as Leon Anawak, Takehiro Hira as Riku Sato, and Krista Kosonen as Tina Lund. Rosabell Laurenti Sellers plays Alicia Delaware, Barbara Sukowa is Professor Katharina Lehmann, Oliver Masucci is Jasper Alban, Klaas Heufer-Umlauf is Luther Roscowitz,...

Late in the freewheeling action of The Boy and the Heron (Kimitachi wa Do Ikiruka), the director’s young stand-in returns to the realm of the living after encountering an ancestor who gives him a handful of stones, instructing him to build a tower with them every three days to create a world of beauty and balance, free from malice. That’s as apt a summation as any of what 82-year-old anime master Hayao Miyazaki has been doing throughout his celebrated six-decade career as a consummate artist and a storyteller of unfettered imagination.

Miyazaki’s first feature in 10 years follows 2013’s The Wind Rises, a project that was announced at the time as the legendary animator’s farewell. That film’s elegiac tone and inspiring themes of molding dreams into reality and choosing creation over violence and destruction made it a fitting swan song.

But Miyazaki clearly was not done weaving his phantasmagorical worlds.

In cinema, few names are as iconic as Hayao Miyazaki, and his latest adventure carries the weight of expectation. Drawing inspiration from the mysticism of Japanese folklore and grounded in the pain of personal loss, The Boy and the Heron, which opened the 2023 Toronto Film Festival, is a visual spectacle that rekindles the art of 2D animation in an era dominated by the digital.

It is a bit of a mixed bag as there are moments of beauty along with narrative missteps. From Studio Ghibli’s signature heartwarming touches to a plot that might perplex, this visual stunner undeniably reaffirms Miyazaki’s status as one of the world’s most beloved filmmakers.

The film starts with Mahito Maki (Soma Santoki) waking up to the sound of warning sirens. There is a fire in the town hospital that belongs to his mother. He tries to help put out the fire, but...

The great Miyazaki is back!! GKids has revealed a short teaser trailer for The Boy and the Heron, the new feature film from the iconic filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki. This is his 12th feature film, and his latest since The Wind Rises in 2013. After opening in Japan in July, the film is premiering at the 2023 Toronto Film Festival this week with a big theatrical release planned this fall. "A young boy named Mahito yearning for his mother ventures into a world shared by the living and the dead. There, death comes to an end, and life finds a new beginning. A semi-autobiographical fantasy about life, death, and creation, in tribute to friendship, from the mind of Hayao Miyazaki." With an original score by Joe Hisaishi. Described as a "big fantastical film", it follows a boy who discovers an abandoned tower in his new town and enters a fantastical world with a talking grey heron.

The teaser trailer for The Boy and the Heron, Hayao Miyazaki’s purported final film, has been released by Studio Ghibli ahead of its arrival in US theaters on December 8th.

Taking place during World War II, the film centers around a teenager named Mahito Maki (Soma Santoki) who is sorting out his life following the tragic death of his mother in a fire. After relocating to the countryside with his father (Takuya Kimura), Mahito uncovers a mysterious, hidden world and encounters a talking grey heron. Watch The Boy and the Heron trailer below.

“A young boy named Mahito yearning for his mother ventures into a world shared by the living and the dead,” reads the official description. “There, death comes to an end, and life finds a new beginning. A semi-autobiographical fantasy about life, death, and creation, in tribute to friendship, from the mind of Hayao Miyazaki.”

The Boy and the Heron...

Studio Ghibli has pulled back the curtain on Hayao Miyazaki’s animated fantasy epic “The Boy and the Heron,” the director’s first feature since his 2013 drama “The Wind Rises.” The movie will get a U.S. theatrical release on Dec. 8.

After playing in Japan, the film is now set to open the Toronto International Film Festival — the first animated or Japanese film to do so. It will also screen at the New York Film Festival. “The Boy and the Heron’s” release in Japan came with conspicuously little promotional material, an effort to maintain an air of secrecy around the enigmatic film. The only image of the movie before its Japanese release was of a mysterious heron, and the new trailer marks the first official footage released publicly to audiences.

The film has grossed $52.5 million to date in Japan, eight weeks into its theatrical run. That makes it Studio...

A few months ago, we heard that The CW had picked up the U.S. rights to the TV series adaptation of author Frank Schätzing’s apocalyptic sci-fi novel The Swarm (you can pick up a copy at This Link). Now Deadline has revealed that The Swarm is set to begin airing on The CW at 9 p.m. Et/Pt on Tuesday, September 12th. A trailer for the show can be seen in the embed above.

The Swarm, not to be confused with the Donald Glover / Prime Video series Swarm, has been a long time coming. In 2006, Uma Thurman and producers Michael Souvignier, Ica Souvignier, and Till Grönemeyer acquired the film rights, with The Silence of the Lambs screenwriter Ted Tally handling the adaptation and Dino De Laurentiis on board to help finance the film. But it didn’t make it into production. In 2018, it was announced that Game of Thrones...

Director Keishi Ohtomo returns to feudal Japan with his newest picture, “The Legend and Butterfly.” Having concluded the live-action “Rurouni Kenshin” film series, Ohtomo shifts gears for his latest feature, focusing more on real Japanese history, albeit with a heavily fictitious spin in a screenplay by Ryota Kosawa. The story deals with the rise and fall of Japanese daimyo Oda Nobunaga and explores his relationship with his wife, Nohime. This feature wouldn't be the first time Lord Nobunaga has been depicted in film or television. Still, with a big budget and an all-star cast, this epic was set to sweep away audiences and the box office while commemorating the 70th-anniversary celebration of Toei Company. Yet, despite a strong opening, it quickly dwindled in popularity and was met with mixed reception.

The Legend and Butterfly is screening at Japan Cuts

The story takes place over 30 years, beginning with a politically driven...

The Legend and Butterfly, directed by Japanese director Keishi Otomo and written by Ryota Kosawa, is an epic story set in the Warring States Period in Japan, where a man and a woman come together under special circumstances to become husband and wife. Their relationship undergoes monumental stages as the history of Japan takes shape in the background. Starring Takuya Kimura and Haruka Ayase, The Legend and Butterfly marks their third collaboration together. The performances are worthy of praise as they helm this period drama and elevate it into a grand love story.

Spoilers Ahead

Viper Meets Tiger

Lord Owari’s son Nobunaga prepares for his first night after Owari and the nearby state’s lord Mino agree to marry their children together. The wedding was actually a ploy by Lord Owari to ensure his domain’s safety against the attacks by Lord Mino. If his daughter was married right in the Owari domain,...

An adaptation of author Frank Schätzing’s apocalyptic sci-fi novel The Swarm (you can pick up a copy at This Link), not to be confused with the Donald Glover / Prime Video series Swarm, was a long time coming. In 2006, Uma Thurman and producers Michael Souvignier, Ica Souvignier, and Till Grönemeyer acquired the film rights, with The Silence of the Lambs screenwriter Ted Tally handling the adaptation and Dino De Laurentiis on board to help finance the film. But it didn’t make it into production. In 2018, it was announced that Game of Thrones executive producer Frank Doelger was teaming with Beta Film and Zdf Enterprises to bring The Swarm to the screen as an eight-part TV series. Five years later, episodes of the show finally had their premiere at the Berlin Film Festival. The Swarm is now streaming on multiple services around the world – and Deadline reports that The CW has picked up the U.

The Swarm, the big-budget series based on the Frank Schätzing best-seller and executive produced by Game of Thrones producer Frank Doelger, has landed with The CW in the U.S..

The deal sees the Beta Film and Zdf Studios thriller headed to American audiences after debuting at the Berlin Film Festival and recently being acquired by Sky for the U.K. and Spain’s Movistar+ channel. The U.S. deal also comes amid the WGA writers strike, when the appeal of foreign TV product for American buyers is expected to grow.

The Swarm chronicles the struggle of humankind against an unknown enemy that lives in the depths of the sea. Just as the reckless treatment of the oceans threatens the natural habitat of this mysterious collective, it strikes back.

The series stars Cécile de France, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Jack Greenlees, Lydia Wilson, Krista Kosonen, Alexander Karim, Leonie Benesch and Barbara Sukowa.

The CW has landed the U.S. rights to eco-thriller drama The Swarm, which comes from Game of Thrones exec producer Frank Doelger.

The eight-part series launched in Germany earlier this year, where it premiered on Zdf.

Brad Schwartz, President of Entertainment, The CW Network revealed the acquisition after the company’s fall schedule presentation and called The Swarm a “big swing”.

The Swarm follows an unknown enemy from the depths of the sea that strikes back due to the reckless treatment of the oceans. It debuted out of competition in Berlin last month before transferring to Zdf’s streaming service.

Related: The CW Fall 2023 Schedule

The series, considered one of Europe’s biggest TV drama swings in some time, stars Alexander Karim (The Lawyer), Cécile de France (The New Pope), Leonie Benesch (The Crown), Barbara Sukowa (Hannah Arendt) and Takuya Kimura (I Come With The Rain).

Doelger, an exec...

Eco-thriller “The Swarm,” which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival, has been acquired in the U.K. by pay-tv operator Sky. Negotiations with a U.S. partner are in the final stages.

The show, produced by multiple Primetime Emmy award winner and “Game of Thrones” executive producer Frank Doelger and Ndf IP’s managing director Eric Welbers, is set to play on the Sky Max channel in the U.K. later this year.

“The Swarm” scored huge ratings in Germany on Zdf and on Austria’s Orf. In Germany, it attracted up to 10 million views per episode (linear and catch-up combined), multiple prime time wins, and big successes within the younger target group (between the ages of 14-49).

The series will continue its international roll-out throughout the year. It was acquired by pay-tv platform Movistar+ Plus for Spain, and will be available on Hulu in Japan; on Viaplay Group in Finland,...

Frank Doelger’s eco-thriller drama The Swarm has made a splash on German TV.

The eight-part series launched last night and took 6.8 million on the Zdf network after achieving more than 10 million views during its first 12 days on Zdf’s digital service, per census data from Agf in cooperation with Nielsen.

The overnights equal a 24.4% share and 11.7% of 14-49s, according to Agf in cooperation with GfK / Videoscope 1.4.

In Austria, the show debuted on Orf with a 23% share.

The Swarm follows an unknown enemy from the depths of the sea that strikes back due to the reckless treatment of the oceans. It debuted out of competition in Berlin last month before transferring to Zdf’s streaming service.

The series, considered one of Europe’s biggest TV drama swings in some time, stars Alexander Karim (The Lawyer), Cécile de France (The New Pope), Leonie Benesch, Barbara Sukowa...

"The idea of not being alone is... strangely comforting." Zdf Studios has unveiled an official trailer for a sci-fi streaming series from Germany titled The Swarm, also known as Der Schwarm. This is premiering at the 2023 Berlin Film Festival in their new "Berlinale Series" section, streaming this March in Germany. Still no info for the US. This eco thriller is based on a novel and is an international co-production, with all of the dialogue in English. Intro from the book: Whales begin sinking ships. Toxic, eyeless crabs poison Long Island's water supply. The North Sea shelf collapses, killing thousands in Europe. Around the world, people are beginning to feel the effects of the ocean's revenge as the seas and their inhabitants begin a "violent revolution" against mankind. At stake is the survival of the Earth's very fragile ecology—and ultimately, the survival of humanity. The series writers/directors "have created...

An adaptation of author Frank Schätzing’s apocalyptic sci-fi novel The Swarm (you can pick up a copy at This Link) has been a long time coming. In 2006, Uma Thurman and producers Michael Souvignier, Ica Souvignier, and Till Grönemeyer acquired the film rights, with The Silence of the Lambs screenwriter Ted Tally handling the adaptation and Dino De Laurentiis on board to help finance the film. But it didn’t make it into production. In 2018, it was announced that Game of Thrones executive producer Frank Doelger was teaming with Beta Film and Zdf Enterprises to bring The Swarm to the screen as an eight-part TV series… and four years later, that series is finally ready to be seen! A television airdate hasn’t been set yet, but Variety reports that The Swarm will premiere at the Berlin Film Festival in February. Hopefully details on the TV and/or streaming release...

Oda Nobunaga (Takuya Kimura) and Nohime (Haruka Ayase) were originally married to mend a hostile relationship between neighbouring regions. Unfortunately, they were like oil and water, making for a somewhat unhappy marriage. When Oda’s enemy, Imagawa Yoshimoto, attacks Owari with his vast army, Oda is devastated by the overwhelming gap in military strength. However, Nohime encourages him not to despair and the pair draw up a tactical plan that will allow them to overcome the odds.

Just like “Masquerade Hotel”, its prequel, “Masquerade Night” is based on a Keigo Higashino novel and brings together hotelier Naomi Yamagishi and undercover Detective Kosuke Nitta at Hotel Cortesia Tokyo, in an effort to catch a killer.

“Masquerade Night” is screening at Toronto Japanese Film Festival

This time, the case begins with an anonymous letter delivered to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, stating that the criminal of a murder case will appear at the countdown party Masquerade Night that will be held at Hotel Cortesia Tokyo. This brings NItta once again working undercover with Yamagishi, with their respective goals, of catching the criminal and meeting all demands of the guests of the hotel, clashing once more, almost constantly. The fact that the hotel is hosting more than 500 guests, most of which will be in costume for the Night, makes things for everyone, even more tedious. Lastly, Yamagishi has one more thing to deal with,...

“Ushikubi Village” will be the third movie in the “Horror Village” series by Takashi Shimizu, following “Howling Village and “Suicide Forest Village”.

Takuya Kimura’s daughter, Mitsuki Kimura will play the female lead role alongside Masahiro Inoue who plays the male lead.

Filming location will start in the northwest base of Mt. Fuji, a famous area for having a lot of paranormal activity.

Music will be composed by Alan Tyler and Takashi Ohmama.

Takashi Shimizu will direct, and the screenwriters are Hosaka Daisuke and Takashi Shimizu...

The Swarm, the big-budget series based on the Frank Schätzing bestseller, has signed up a global cast of stars and up-and-comers for the 8-part environmental thriller.

European actors, including Cécile de France (The New Pope), Sharon Duncan-Brewster (Sex Education), Jack Greenlees (Star Wars – The Last Jedi), Lydia Wilson (Flack), Krista Kosonen (Blade Runner 2049), Alexander Karim (Dying of the Light), Leonine Benesch (Babylon Berlin), and German star Barbara Sukowa (Hannah Arendt) will join the likes of Japan’s Takuya Kimura (I Came With the Rain) and Takehiro Hiera (Giri/Haji), Americans Rosabell Laurenti Sellers (Game of Thrones) and Dutch Johnson (Veep),...

The Swarm, the big-budget series based on the Frank Schätzing bestseller, has signed up a global cast of stars and up-and-comers for the 8-part environmental thriller.

European actors, including Cécile de France (The New Pope), Sharon Duncan-Brewster (Sex Education), Jack Greenlees (Star Wars – The Last Jedi), Lydia Wilson (Flack), Krista Kosonen (Blade Runner 2049), Alexander Karim (Dying of the Light), Leonie Benesch (Babylon Berlin), and German star Barbara Sukowa (Hannah Arendt) will join the likes of Japan’s Takuya Kimura (I Came With the Rain) and Takehiro Hiera (Giri/Haji), Americans Rosabell Laurenti Sellers (Game of Thrones) and Dutch Johnson (Veep),...

Another Decade with Takashi Miike is a series of essays on the 2010 films of the Japanese maverick, following Notebook's earlier survey of Miike's first decade of the 21st century.Takashi Miike could have become the idea of himself held by many Americans and gotten rich doing it, but his career was always his own. After he indulged one last time in the uncomplicated thrill of homicide-as-spectacle in 13 Assassins (2010), he’d never spill blood the same way. In Miike’s films of the last decade, violence became the director’s way of working through feelings about a world ruled by a rotting morality. Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai (2011), Lesson of the Evil (2012), As the Gods Will (2014), and Terra Formars (2016) all reckon with the problems of believing in some greater power or logic, and their findings are bleak. If teachers, gods, governments, and alien life aren’t looking out for us,...

Huayi Brothers war epic has a cumulative gross of $276.8m after 10 days.

Huayi Brothers’ war epic The Eight Hundred grossed $69m on its second weekend (August 28-30), according to figures from Artisan Gateway, for a cumulative box office of $276.8m after 10 days.

Underscoring the rate of box office recovery in China, where cinemas were shuttered for six months until July 20 due to the Covid-19 coronavirus, The Eight Hundred’s second weekend was down just 13% from its opening weekend haul of $79.6m. Chinese cinemas are continuing to operate at 50% capacity to comply with social distancing requirements.

Filmed entirely with IMAX digital cameras,...

The classic whodunit genre is seeing a revival of sorts, with tentpole Hollywood blockbusters like “Murder on the Orient Express” and “Knives Out” leading the way and recently even Netflix jumping on the bandwagon with the Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston starring “Murder Mystery” and the Hindi-language film “Raat Akeli Hai” proving to be hits for the streaming platform. Yet another project in the same genre which saw a fair amount of success was 2019’s “Masquerade Hotel” by Masayuki Suzuki, which is based on a Keigo Higashino book and was produced and released, like many Higashino adaptations, after a long drawn-out bidding battle over the book’s rights.

A serial killer is on the loose in Tokyo, three seemingly random murders only having a code left at the scene being the connecting factor between them. The code, when decoded, tells of the location of the next murder...

Let me start with a personal note. I have been reading, writing, watching and obsessing with Asian cinema for about 15 years now and in that time frame, Mark Schilling has always set the bar for me regarding writing about Japanese cinema through his reviews, interviews, feature articles and books. His style of writing is easy to read, to the point, without the complexities of academic texts or the unnecessary literary elements that so frequently torment contemporary reviews, and always very informative, highlighting the knowledge he has accumulated over decades of dealing with Japanese cinema. In that regard, it was a true pleasure to get the opportunity to read and review a book that collects some of his best writings of the last two decades (more than 60 interviews and hundreds of reviews).

The most obvious asset of the book is that, at 482 pages and in a rather large format,...

It was always obvious to me that Katsuhito Ishii’s style would fit greatly in anime and the fact that the director of “Redline” is Takeshi Koike, who was in charge of the excellent style of animation featured in Ishii’s films “Funky Forest” and “The Taste of Tea”, was another guarantee of excellence. Add to all that the fact that Madhouse was the production studio behind the anime and that the cast of voice actors included Tadanobu Asano, Yu Aoi and Takuya Kimura, and you could easily say that nothing could go wrong with this one. Well, apart from the fact that the production took seven years to finish, particularly due to the over 100,000 hand-drawn frames, nothing did, in one of the best anime movies of the 21st century.

“Redline” is screening at Anime Film Festival 2019

The film revolves around “Sweet” Jp, a frantic and reckless rockabilly car racer...

Centrepiece Highlight

World Premiere of “Dance With Me”

Director Shinobu Yaguchi, Lead Actress Ayaka Miyoshi in attendance

Opening Night

North American Premiere of Masayuki Suzuki’s mystery thriller, “Masquerade Hotel“

Special Guests:

Star of “Love’s Twisting Path” – Mikako Tabe

Director of award-winning “Born Bone Born” – Comedian Toshiyuki Teruya “Gori”

Director Tatsushi Omori – “When My Mom Died, I Wanted to Eat Her Ashes” and “Every Day a Good Day”

Star of “The Gambler’s Odyssey 2020” – Takumi Saitoh

The samurai, of the cinematic variety, are set to descend on Toronto this summer. They are joined by reluctant sake brewers, yakuza assassins, tea ceremony sages, deadly mahjong-playing robots, dashing hotel detectives, and calculating masters of “corporate kabuki”.

Now in its eighth year, the 2019 Toronto Japanese Film Festival brings Toronto audiences 28 of the finest contemporary Japanese films recognized for excellence by Japanese audiences and critics, international film festival audiences and the Japanese Film Academy.

“Consider yourself lucky, At least you can die.”

Japanese director Takashi Miike downplays his pride about having made his 100th film with “Blade of the Immortal”, and indeed, whether they are 100 or 50 or 20, what counts is the quality of the body of work one has made over the years. And while there may have been weaker entries, the overall impression Miike’s films leave behind is one of versatility, creativity and provocation, since, even with an average of six to seven films per year none of his works feel as if they have been churned out. Instead, we witness the film of a true auteur, one who works fast and is unafraid of the changing tones and genres he has worked with.

During the 2017 Sitges Film Festival, Miike described how it does not matter to him which film he is working on since he approaches every one...

On February 13th, an immortal samurai's vengeance can be yours to own. Takashi Miike's centennial film Blade of the Immortal is coming to Blu-ray and DVD courtesy of Magnolia Home Entertainment, and it comes with five special features. Continue reading for specs and a look at the red band trailer in case you missed it.

Blu-ray.com reports that Blade of the Immortal, Takashi Miike's 100th film, will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on February 13th from Magnolia Home Entertainment. The Blu-ray release will include the following special features:

Manji vs. 300 - Featurette Takuya Kimura Interview Cast Interviews Poster Gallery Original Trailers

Synopsis: "Cursed with immortality, a highly skilled samurai in feudal Japan promises to help a young woman avenge the death of her parents. Their mission leads them into a bloody battle with a ruthless warrior and his band of master swordsmen."

Directed by Takashi Miike and...

Takashi Miike’s surreally violent action movie based in Hiroaki Samura’s long-running manga may not be his best work but is brutally dramatic

At the age of 57, the staggeringly prolific Japanese film-maker and master of mayhem Takashi Miike now passes the 100 feature film mark with this expansive and surreally violent supernatural action movie; you could almost call it an undead samurai picaresque. It is based on Hiroaki Samura’s 30-volume manga, which ran for 20 years until 2012. Takuya Kimura plays Manji, a samurai cursed with immortality – “bloodworms” that magically heal any wound – who is asked by a young woman, Rin, to avenge the death of her father at the hands of the renegade ronin group, the Itto-ryu. Rin eerily resembles Machi, the disturbed figure whom Manji had witnessed being brutally butchered 50 years before: they are both played by Hana Sugisaki. Now, burdened by gallantry, honour and a sense of destiny,...

If you are into fantasy martial arts films, you can’t miss out on director Takashi Miike's 100th film Blade of the Immortal! I️ was so excited to see this movie, especially because the trailers made it look like it was going to be one hell of a badass flick, and guess what? It totally was! The movie was amazing!

The moment I️ saw that the movie playing at a little indie theater near me over the weekend I️ dropped everything I was doing and didn't hesitate to rush out to catch the final screening of the day. This is one of those films that I was really hoping to catch on the big screen and luckily I had the opportunity.

Takashi Miike delivered a film that was filled with complete and utter awesomeness from beginning to end! It told a fantastic story of redemption and revenge and it...

There was a big reaction online when the bloody and bold trailer for the U.S. release of Blade of the Immortal hit in August.

It's billed as the 100th film from prolific Japanese director Takashi Miike, a filmmaker who counts Quentin Tarantino among his fans. Blade of the Immortal is based on the manga written by Hiroaki Samura that ran from 1993 to 2012 and follows a warrior named Manji who cannot be killed as he helps a young girl seek vengeance for the death of her father.

Manji is played by Takuya Kimura, a pop star and one of the...