Fujiwara Tatsuya Cast as Shishio Makoto in Rurouni Kenshin Live Action Sequels

The official website of JUMP SQ has revealed that actor Fujiwara Tatsuya (Battle Royale, Death Note) will take on the role of Kyoto arc villain Shishio Makoto in the anticipated 2-part sequel of the Rurouni live action adaptation. Fujiwara expressed that he is glad that he was offered the role and mentioned that he used to watch Rurouni Kenshin as a child.*

Actor Sato Takeru reprises his role as Himura Kenshin. He said he is happy to return as the character despite the big pressure the first movie has posted. Otomo Keishi also returns as director to the sequels.*

Two new Rurouni Kenshin live action movies are set to be released on 2014. Both movies will cover the original manga’s Kyoto Arc. According to ANN, the first part will be about "The Great Kyoto Fire" while the second one will be about the "Legend’s End."

The live action installment of Rurouni Kenshin premiered in Japan on August 2012. It was also screened in Asia, Europe, Australia and North America.


Sato Takeru:

I feel a great happiness to act as Kenshin once again, and also feel myself straightening under pressure that I have to clear a greater hurdle.

As one of the fans of the original manga ‘RUROUNI KENSHIN’, Kyoto arc is a climax that I’ve thought is critical in making it into a live action film. So I’m happy to make it into a film, but at the same time, it is also a difficult theme to make it into a live action film.

But if I’ll act at all, it is meaningless if we fail to make a film that is greater than the first one. And if we fail to convince the fans of the original comic, we will not be qualified to make the film at all.

So, what I can do is believe the director, play sincerely Kenshin by picking up the soul of the original, and would like to challenge scaled up actions that go beyond the first film.

I’ve already started stunts and horse riding and we’ve had discussions again and again.

We all the cast, stuff are set our teeth and determined to face this film sincerely.

So support us, if you please!

Fujiwara Tatsuya: confessed that he’s one of Ruroken generation and he was totally not expecting to play Shishio some day. He believes that Shishio is the most popular character of the manga and that though there might be people who are not pleased with him getting that role he’ll be happy to do it.

Otomo Keishi: promised that every part of the production will be improved, the stakes and the quality will be much higher. This time Kenshin will be fighting to protect not only people around him but the new age he helped to bring. Again that’ll be his main conflict - how to protect without killing, especially when he’s up against his strongest nemesis so far. The theme of the new movies will be heat and flame. The casting is great this time. All in all, Ohtomo Keishi promised to make everything top-notch.


source: 1 , 2, 3

tbh i know tatsuya is a great actor but not sure about him playing as Shishio .__.