City Hunter 2’s announcement is perfectly timed to the 40th anniversary of Tsukasa Hojo’s iconic manga City Hunter. The manga has left a global impact with live-action adaptations of the work made in Korea and China; I mean, Jackie Chan even starred in one. But the 2024 Netflix production marked the first time that the manga series had a live-action Japanese adaptation.
2024’s City Hunter was a reimagining of the original manga story set in modern-day Shinjuku. As for the subject, well, this movie focused on how Ryo Saeba (Ryohei Suzuki) and Kaori Makimura (Misato Morita) first became partners. Giving us some of the funniest cosplay moments in film for now.
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About 2024’s City Hunter, we said:
“City Hunter thrives on its absurdity. Sure, Ryo Saeba isn’t the most likable protagonist, but he is endlessly charismatic (especially when his shirt is off). Suzuki is a phenomenal comedic actor and also a clear action star. No matter what scene he is in, Saeba steals it all. This is his film.
If you’re even slightly against womanizer characters, this might not be for you. But if you’re all in on a seemingly horrible guy with a real heart of gold and badass action sequences, then City Hunter is ace.”
Keiichiro Shiraki steps in to direct the sequel, with a screenplay by Jumpei Yamaoka. Building on the momentum of the first film, City Hunter 2 plans to further explore the distinctive world of the beloved original manga. The sequel’s production was announced on Ryo Saeba’s birthday.
Actor Ryohei Suzuki expressed his gratitude in a quote to the press via the Netflix newsroom, “It is thanks to everyone who loved and supported the previous film that we are able to bring you a new installment. I’m truly grateful.”
Looking ahead to the sequel, Suzuki added, “The previous film depicted the origin story between Ryo and Kaori. In this sequel, we’re delivering what you might call the City Hunter — the most quintessential version of City Hunter yet,” hinting at an even more evolved and definitive chapter in the franchise.
What is City Hunter 2 about?
The story centers on Ryo Saeba, an elite “sweeper” based in Shinjuku who takes on dangerous jobs from the criminal underworld. While he’s notoriously hopeless around beautiful women and often loses composure in front of them, Ryo becomes a consummate professional once on the job, executing missions with extraordinary marksmanship, exceptional physical ability, and a calm, analytical mind.
Ryohei Suzuki returns as the cool yet goofy and irresistibly charming Ryo Saeba, alongside Misato Morita as Kaori Makimura, his partner and heroine, and Fumino Kimura as the elegant yet sharp-tongued detective Saeko Nogami.
About the sequel, the mangka behind the story, Tsukasa Hojo, offered a quote:
I’m truly relieved and delighted to finally be able to officially share this news with everyone.
I recently had the opportunity to visit the set, and I was deeply impressed by the incredible passion of Ryohei Suzuki and the director. In particular, Ryohei’s physical transformation was remarkable—it clearly reflected his dedication and commitment to every project he takes on.
I have no doubt that this will be a fantastic piece of art filled with the passion of everyone involved. I’m very much looking forward to seeing the finished film.
City Hunter 2 Cast
The main cast for the film has currently been announced as:
- Ryohei Suzuki
- Misato Morita
- Fumino Kimura
When is the release date?
City Hunter 2 does not currently have an exact release date. However, the production has announced 2027 as its release window for its global premiere exclusively on Netflix.
