It is official, not only will live action film of the long running comedy series “Gintama” be making its debut on July 14, there will also be a live action net series making its debut a day after the film’s release. Just announced on NTT DoCoMo’s online video streaming service dTV, the net series will be starting off with three episodes posted simultaneously and will be featuring one of the most popular serious “tear-jerking” stories in the manga.
Before anything else, some background info on the series for those who may be interested. “Gintama” started off as a 2003 manga by Hideaki Sorachi and was serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Shōnen Jump with a total of 68 volumes at this time. It was in 2006 that an anime series was made and is currently at 201 episodes.
The story of the series is set in an alternate late Edo-period where humanity is attacked from beings called “Amanto” a.k.a. “Sky People” and are subjugated by them. Though the samurais attempt to battle them, they are ceased by the shogun who surrenders to the otherworldly beings. The heroes for the story? A group named “Yorozuya” a.k.a "The Anything Store.”
Yuichi Fukuda, who acts as the director of the live-action film, is also acting as the director and writer for the net series. The main cast of the film will also be reprising their roles in the net series and the featured characters for the net series’ plot are the members of the Shinsengumi.
They are, Isao Kondo, Toushiro Hijikata and Sougo Okita. In the series, this group is known as the police force whom are working for the bakufu (also known as the shogun, the military director).
Playing as Isao is Kankuro Nakamura, a Japanese kabuki, television, and film actor who also played as Sarutobi Sasuke in the 2016 film “Sanada 10 Braves.”
Japanese actor Yuya Yagira, who played a role in the 2013 film “Under the Nagasaki Sky”, is playing the role of Toushiro Hijikata.
Acting as Sougo Okita is Ryo Yoshizawa, a Japanese actor who plays as Seigo Fujisaki in “The Last Cop: The Movie.”
The other cast members of the live-action film will also be taking part of the series including Shun Oguri as Gintoki Sakata.
At this time, no title as been confirmed for the net series nor any other details that may be related to it.
Source: Crunchyroll News