300 people cast in “20th Century Boys” movies

The trilogy of “20th Century Boys” live-action films (directed by Yukihiko Tsutsumi) is set to be one of the biggest undertakings ever in the Japanese movie industry. The project not only has a budget of 6 billion yen, but it was revealed on Sunday that it will feature a cast of 300 people.

The movies are adapted from Naoki Urasawa’s sci-fi manga of the same name about a man and his friends who try to save the world from destruction by a mysterious organization. An earlier announcement revealed that Toshiaki Karasawa is starring as the protagonist Kenji, while Etsushi Toyokawa and Takako Tokiwa play two of his friends, Otcho and Yukiji.

Because the story spans a period from the 1960s to the 2010s, many of the characters are being played by 3 people at different ages (elementary school, middle school to high school, adulthood). Counting only cast members with spoken lines, a cast of 300 actors and actresses are being assembled for the three films. Approximately 200 of them will appear in the first installment.

34 more names have been announced as part of the cast including Teruyuki Kagawa (as Yoshitsune) and Hitomi Kuroki (as Kenji’s sister Kiriko). The full list can be found in the forums.

Source:
Sankei Sports