IGN can exclusively reveal that Shuhei Uesugi has been cast as Kazuma Kuwabara in Netflix's live-action adaptation of the mega-popular Japanese manga Yu Yu Hakusho. This comes after IGN's exclusive reveal of the casting of Takumi Kitamura (Yusuke Urameshi) and Kanata Hongō (Hiei), adding more names to our slew of show protagonists.
Known by his last name as Kuwabara, Kazuma is one of the series' main protagonists — along with Yusuke Urameshi, Kurama, and Hiei. He is the younger brother of Shizuru Kuwabara, and he seeks to become Yukina's (Hiei's twin sister's) lover. Close friends with Urameshi, Kuwabara is the second-toughest kid and self-proclaimed punk at Sarayashiki Junior High School — always trying to usurp Yusuke Urameshi's position as the toughest but always falling short.
Uesugi is best-known for playing Kannonzaki in Netflix's 2018 teenage crime drama River's Edge. When talking about the announcement, he shared his excitement with IGN: "I’m so excited that the live-action adaptation of YuYu Hakusho, a series loved by people all over the world, will be available on Netflix where fans everywhere can discover it. I am confident that the series will be enjoyed by people no matter where they live and I hope fans will get a chance to check it out."
The series is based on the legendary Japanese manga of the same name, initially serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump (published by Shueisha as Jump Comics) starting in 1990. The manga is considered a fan favorite (we called its anime adaptation one of the best of all time) and has sold over 50 million copies in Japan alone. The adaptation will present a new version of the 1990 manga in which a teenage boy, Yusuke, dies and begins a new afterlife as an underworld detective.
The adaptation is being helmed by director Shô Tsukikawa (You Shine in the Moonlight, My Teacher, My Love) with a screenplay written by Tatsuro Mishima. Already announced in the cast are Takumi Kitamura (Yusuke Urameshi), Kanata Hongō (Hiei) and Jun Shison, who'll play an unannounced role (online speculation points to Youko Kurama.)
The show's producer, Akira Morii, handled location management for Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill: Vol. 1 and produced 2020's hit Netflix thriller Alice in Borderland.
"I could barely contain my excitement when I realized that Netflix is bringing its Hollywood-level capabilities to this project," Morii told IGN. "I found that the traditional Japanese style of carefully filming only what is needed, keeping the finishing touches to a minimum, and the technological capabilities that far exceeded our own knowledge and experience fused together nicely on set. As a result, I think we will present the world with a Yu Yu Hakusho that far exceeds expectations."
Yu Yu Hakusho will be premiering worldwide and only on Netflix in December 2023. For more news about the adaption, stick to IGN.
Diego Ramos Bechara is a Freelance Writer for IGN, and he's a fan of all things Star Wars, Rockstar, Naughty Dog, and Batman.
You can follow him on Twitter @DRamosBechara.