As previously reported, prolific Japanese director Takashi Miike (live-action Blade of the Immortal) will handle the adaptation of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (JJBA). The flm will jump to the fourth volume of Hirohiko Araki's manga, a decision made because that's the first time in the series where a Japanese protagonist
AND a Japanese setting are featured. The decision to bypass the first three volumes perplexed fans of the popular shonen series as part of the appeal of JJBA is following the long line of successors to the special abilities passed down throughout the Joestar lineage.
The official website for the film recently uploaded a special promo video from a press conference in Japan, featuring the live-action cast assembling for the first time.
Filming is underway in Spain for a scheduled release of Summer 2017. Previously, producers on the film have stated that Volume 04: Diamond is Unbreakable is one of the longer volumes in the JJBA series so their plan is to adapt the volume in installments rather than try to cram everything into a single film. Should Diamond Is Unbreakable Chapter I prove successful at the box office, produers have stated that there is a possibility of prequel films that would tackle the first three volumes.
The live-action cast is as follows [via ANN]:
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Kento Yamazaki (Orange, Your Lie in April, Heroine Shikkaku, Wolf Girl and Black Prince, live-action Death Note television, seen right) as Jōsuke Higashikata
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Ryunosuke Kamiki (Howl's Moving Castle, The Secret World of Arrietty, Bakuman., Rurouni Kenshin Part II: Kyoto Inferno) as Kōichi Hirose
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Nana Komatsu (Bakuman., Kin Kyori Renai, World of Kanako) as Yukako Yamagishi
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Masaki Okada (Hana-Kimi, Boku no Hatsukoi o Kimi ni Sasagu, Otomen, Mahō Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto, Space Brothers) as Keichō Nijimura
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Mackenyu (Chihayafuru) as Okuyasu Nijimura
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Takayuki Yamada (Bakuman., Terraformars, Crows Zero, Gantz) as Anjūrō Katagiri
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Yusuke Iseya (Casshern, Rurouni Kenshin Part II: Kyoto Inferno, Shinjuku Swan, Honey and Clover) as Jōtarō Kūjō
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Alisa Mizuki (Doraemon: Nobita no Space Heroes) as Tomoko Higashikata
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Jun Kunimura (Attack on Titan, Chihayafuru, The Wind Rises, Ichi the Killer) as Ryōhei Higashikata
Manga and anime fans are a little perplexed that the many arcs precedding Diamond is Unbreakableare being skipped. Jumping right into the third arc skips what many fans view as necessary backstory.
Earlier this year, it was announced that episodes of the series would begin airing on Cartoon Network's Toonami programming block beginning on October 5th. They will begin with episodes from the first arc, Phantom Blood. Crunchyroll is currently streaming a simulcast of the ongoing anime from David Production which previously tackled Phantom Blood and Battle Tendency and is currently in the middle of animating Diamond is Unbreakable.
To date, there have been over 100 volumes of the manga released which haven been broken down into 8 parts.
To date, there have been 117 volumes released, which have been broken down into 8 parts:
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Part 1 - Phantom Blood: set in the 1880s, it follows the adventures of Jonathan Joestar
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Part 2 - Battle Tendency: beginning in 1938, it follows the adventures of Jonathan's grandson, Josepth Joestar
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Part 3 - Stardust Crusaders: set in 1989, Stardust Crusaders follows the adventures of Jotaro Kujo, grandson of Josepth Joestar
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Part 4 - Diamond is Unbreakable: set in 1999, Diamond is Unbreakable follows the adventures of Jotaro and Josuke Higashikata - the illegitimate son of Josepth
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Part 5 - Vento Aureo: the year is 2001, and Vento Aureo follows the adventures of Giorno Giovanna, the estranged son of Jonathan Joestar's rival antagonist, Dio.
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Part 6 - Stone Ocean: set in 2011 in Florida, Stone Ocean follows the adventures of Jolyne Cujoh, daughter of Jotaro Kujo.
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Part 7 - Steel Ball Run: set in an alternate timeline, in the year 1890,Steel Ball Run chronicles the adventures of Gyro Zeppeli and former jockey turned paraplegic Johnny Joestar.
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Part 8 - JoJolion: currently ongoing, the JoJolion arc is set in the same continuity as Steel Ball Run but the story has fast forwarded all the way to 2012 and follows college student Yasuho Hirose and the Higashikata and the mysterious "Josuke."