Parasyte manga gets live-action drama by Train to Busan director starting April 5
Netflix announced that Parasyte: The Grey will be premiering on April 5. The upcoming Korean series is based on Hitoshi Iwaaki’s science-fiction horror manga series Parasyte, and is being directed by Yeon Sang-ho, director of the hit zombie apocalypse film Train to Busan.
According to the announcement, Parasyte: The Grey draws inspiration from Iwaaki’s original manga, preserving its worldbuilding and message while transporting it to a new environment and introducing a new cast of characters. The story will take place in South Korea, with a female protagonist at its center. Similarly to Shinichi in the original manga, Su-in will experience various struggles while being forced to coexist with a parasite.
Japanese Parasyte fans have responded to the news with great enthusiasm, harboring high expectations of director Yeon Sang-ho’s skills and South Korea’s visceral cinematography. The series will not attempt to adapt the manga literally, but rather expand upon it in an original way. This is largely being regarded as a good decision, as the audience is more welcoming to an original story that respects the spirit of the original rather than a “slightly off” literal adaptation. The original mangaka Iwaaki has commented that he is “most excited that this is a new story,” as he will also get to enjoy the thrill of the series.
Parasyte: The Grey is scheduled to premiere on April 5 on Netflix.
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I have always argued the most important thing in adaptations is to try and stay close to the material as possible without trying to wildly deviate and only take liberties when the creator approves of them. Much like with One Piece Live Action in which should be the standard in the industry. In this case with Parasyte it makes sense as well because it still is faithful to the main theme and core but without deviating so much like many others before where you wonder if it’s even an adaptation or just something using the name to create something else entirely for their own thing entirely.