The popular 2001 TV drama "HERO" (starring Takuya Kimura) will be adapted to film next year. The original series received an impressive average rating of 34.3%, and the special episode that aired earlier this year had a rating of 30.9%. Producer Chihiro Kameyama, the chief of the motion pictures division of Fuji TV, explained that there had been hopes for a movie ever since the original series, and the popularity of the special proved that it could work.

The movie will continue the story after the special, so the original cast (including Takako Matsu and Hiroshi Abe, among others) is expected to appear as well. It has also been stated that the villain will be a big-name actor, and there is the possibility of some the action being shot overseas. The film will be directed by Masayuki Suzuki, who directed the original series. It will open in theaters in September.