Marmalade Boy to Get Live Action Movie! Hinako Sakurai to Play Miki, Ryo Yoshizawa to Play Yuu

It has been announced that Wataru Yoshizumi’s Marmalade Boy will get a live action movie adaptation. Miki Koishikawa will be played by Hinako Sakurai, affectionately known as Okayama’s Miracle, and Yuu Matsuura will be played by Ryo Yoshizawa, who played Sogo Okita in the live action adaptation of Gintama. The film will be released in 2018.

Marmalade Boy is a love story featuring Miki and Yuu after they find themselves in the strange situation of living under the same roof when their parents decide to switch partners with each other. The manga was serialized in Shueisha’s Ribon from May 1992 until October 1995. There was an anime adaptation in 1994 and an anime movie in 1995. In 2001, there was also a Taiwanese live action TV series based on the manga. Currently, the sequel, Marmalade Boy little, is being serialized in Shueisha’s Cocohana.

The director will be Ryuichi Hiroki who has worked on movies such as Strobe Edge, Wolf Girl and Black Prince, and P and JK. The screenplay will be done by Taeko Asano, who worked on Love Generation, Kami-sama, Mou Sukoshi Dake, and Kyou, Koi wo Hajimemasu. Speaking about the live action adaptation, Yoshizumi said, ‘Sakurai is a cute, new face, and Yoshizawa is a popular handsome guy and I am looking forward to see them shine on the big screen through Director Hiroki’s beautiful imagery!’

Sakurai and Yoshizawa are scheduled to do a live announcement of the movie on LINE LIVE from 22:00 JST on Tuesday 22 August 2017.

Wataru Yoshizumi comment

‘A live action adaptation was my dream so I was very happy when I was approached about it. Sakurai is a cute, new face, and Yoshizawa is a popular handsome guy and I am looking forward to see them shine through Director Hiroki’s beautiful imagery on the big screen!’

Hinako Sakurai comment

‘Me, a heroine in a movie? Is this real? Honestly, it still doesn’t feel real to me. The heroine of Marmalade Boy, Miki Koishikawa, is a very pure girl who blushes easily. I am excited to see how a work from over 20 years ago will be expressed today and what kind of clothes and hairstyles will be used for Miki. Also, I am very happy to be able to work with Director Hiroki. For someone like me who has only just debuted, this is an opportunity I couldn’t have dreamed of. I want to fully express Miki, who is trifled with by her family and worries and suffers in love.’

Ryo Yoshizawa comment

‘I have acted in shojo manga adaptations before but only as frivolous comic relief or as an introverted and gloomy character. I haven’t had many cool roles so this is my first time playing a handsome character. I feel like it’s finally time to make full use of my face. I have worked together with Director Hiroki on a shojo manga adaptation and I have always thought that I want to work with him again so I am very happy. We, the younger generation, will work hard to recreate this popular comic which was a monumental work of the 90s. Please watch over us warmly.’

Director Ryuichi Hiroki comment

‘The starting point that makes me wonder what shojo manga is, is inside of me and I am very happy to be able to adapt them into movies. What is it like for adolescent boys and girls to innocently like someone? Then, when they worry, there is adult drama. I want to make it into a movie that would be loved by a wide range of people. I am looking forward to see what kind of love story the unknown Sakurai and the experienced Yoshizawa will show us.’

Producer Hiroyoshi Koiwai comment

‘The one that created the prototype for life-sized high school girl, romance shojo manga is Marmalade Boy. Living with the opposite sex, the tsundere guy, the two drawn to each other, friendship, family love. I can strongly declare that this is the ultimate heart-pounding and emotional love story and I am excited that it is finally getting a live action adaptation!
The director, Ryuichi Hiroki, has converted many popular shojo manga into living, breathing boys and girls. The producing team is also well known and is made up of Shinzou Matsuhashi (Paradise Kiss, Wolf Girl and Black Prince, Gintama), Naoaki Kitajima (Chihayafuru series, Wolf Girl and Black Prince). The staff is perfect for the ultimate shojo manga.
I saw Miki’s actress, Hinako Sakurai, in a commercial a year an a half ago and I looked her up, wondering “Who is this girl?”, and the chance has finally come to work with this actress. Yuu’s actor, Ryo Yoshizawa, acted in Wolf Girl and Black Prince and Gintama. Not only is he popular, but he is talented and has a sense of stability in terms of his acting. He is the most capable young actor for this role. Please support these two young actors!’

Marmalade Boy

National release: 2018

Staff

Original work: Waatru Yoshizawa Marmalade Boy (Shueisha)
Director: Ryuichi Hiroki
Screenplay: Taeko Asano
Producers: Hiroyoshi Koiwai, Shinzo Matsuhashi, Naoaki Kitajima