Yu Yu Hakusho is getting a live-action adaptation on Netflix soon! While live-actions don't have the best reputation, fans are excited to see how Netflix will adapt one of the greatest shonen anime series of all time. Here's all you need to know about the Yu Yu Hakusho live-action's release date and more!
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Yu Yu Hakusho: Everything You Need to Know About the Classic Shonen Series
The first chapter of the Yu Yu Hakusho manga debuted in Shonen Jump in 1990, and it features a juvenile delinquent named Yusuke.
In an act of heroism, Yusuke saves a kid from a rushing car, and in death, Yusuke's ghost is given a chance to return to the living if he completes some trials, but that's just the beginning.
The series is famous for its Dark Tournament Saga as Yusuke and his team, consisting of Hiei, Kurama, Kuwabara, and Genkai, battle against supernatural teams.
The manga series ended in 1994 with 175 chapters published.
As one of the most famous shonen manga, it also got an anime adaptation by studio Pierrot (of Naruto and Bleach fame) which aired from 1992 to 1995, and it consisted of 112 episodes.
In December 2021, Netflix Geeked announced the live-action adaptation of Yu Yu Hakusho.
Unlike the live-action Death Note movie, which was an American production, Yu Yu Hakusho is being produced by Akira Morii at Robot Communications, the Japanese production studio that worked on the live-action Assassination Classroom and Parasyte films.
This is not the first time Yu Yu Hakusho is getting the live-action treatment, as the series also had a stage play adaptation in Japan in 2019.
Yu Yu Hakusho Live-Action Netflix Release Date Confirmed
Netflix announced that the live-action adaptation of Yu Yu Hakusho will premiere worldwide on December 14, 2023.
Kazutaka Sakamoto, the producer of Netflix's Yu Yu Hakusho live-action series, is also the executive producer behind the mega-hit live-action adaptation of Alice in Borderland.
This could explain why the live-action Yu Yu Hakusho won't be released until December 2023 as Sakamoto and the production crew were focused on Alice in Borderland Season 2.
It makes sense that the producers took their time in the year between Alice in Borderland Season 2 and Yu Yu Hakusho to do a great live-action adaptation of the latter.
After all, Yu Yu Hakusho is known as one of the greatest anime franchises of all time.
Who Are the Cast Members of the Yu Yu Hakusho Live-Action Adaptation?
In July 2022, Netflix announced the main cast members of the long-awaited Yu Yu Hakusho live-action series, and they are as follows:
- Takumi Kitamura (Let Me Eat Your Pancreas, Tokyo Revengers) will play Yusuke Urameshi in Netflix's live-action adaptation of Yu Yu Hakusho.
- Kurama will be played by Jun Shison (Battle of Supreme High, Bubble)
- Hiei will be played by Kanata Hongo (Kingdom, Attack on Titan)
- Shuhei Uesugi (Awaiting Kirin, Followers) will play Kazuma Kuwabara
Kazutaka Sakamoto will serve as executive producer, and Akira Morii will also be producing the live-action adaptation of Yu Yu Hakusho.
Yu Yu Hakusho Live-Action Adaptation Plot
As of writing, the streaming giant hasn't revealed any official plot details about its live-action adaptation of Yu Yu Hakusho.
However, we expect that the beginning will show how Yusuke Urameshi becomes the Underworld Detective following his heroic sacrifice.
It will most likely show how Yusuke meets Kuwabara, Hiei, and Kurama, and feature their adventures in the Labyrinth Castle.
While the Dark Tournament Saga is the highlight of the anime/manga series, we think it's important for the live-action adaptation to show everything that happens before that.
The first season will likely cover the beginning of Yusuke's journey in the Spirit World as well as his early adventures with his team of fighters.
Netflix has also revealed that the live-action series will have a five-episode run, which is shorter than most live-action shows.
Netflix's Yu Yu Hakusho Live-Action Trailer
Ahead of the live-action series' premiere in December, Netflix has finally released the first trailer for Yu Yu Hakusho during Geeked Week '23.
The trailer gives fans their first look at the cast in action, specifically characters like Yusuke, Kurama, Hiei, and Kuwabara.
Opening with Yusuke's death, the trailer shows the moment paramedics surround his dead body.
We then see Koenma reviving Yusuke as a Spirit Detective and sending him back to Earth to solve supernatural cases.
The teaser also shows Toguro fighting multiple enemies, highlighting his incredible strength.
Lastly, we see Yusuke attempting to use his signature Spirit Gun attack.
A week before its premiere, the Yu Yu Hakusho live-action series released a longer and more action-packed trailer that shows Yusuke and his friends facing off against one Toguro, one of the series' most iconic villains.
The trailer also showcases well-loved supporting characters like Botan, Genkai, Keiko, and more.
Is the Yu Yu Hakusho Anime Available to Stream on Netflix?
The Yu Yu Hakusho anime series is only available to stream on Netflix in select countries, but it's not available in the US, the UK, Canada, and Australia.
Here's a list of countries where the Yu Yu Hakusho anime is available to stream on Netflix:
- Japan
- Belgium
- Czech Republic
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Iceland
- India
- Israel
- Italy
- Lithuania
- Malaysia
- Netherlands
- Philippines
- Poland
- Romania
- Russia
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- South Africa
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Thailand
- Turkey
- Ukraine
If you're in the US, the UK, and other regions, you can stream the Yu Yu Hakusho anime on Crunchyroll.
Discover more anime news and info by following us on X (formerly Twitter) @epicstreamanime.
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