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Netflix and Toho Team up With Yeon Sang-ho and Shinzo Katayama to Revive Classic Special Effects Film For New Series 'Human Vapor'
In their first-ever collaboration, Netflix and Toho are rebooting the iconic Japan studio's legendary special effects film The Human Vapor (1960) as a live-action series, which will feature a fresh storyline and cutting-edge visual effects technology.
The series will be executive produced and written by Yeon Sang-ho (Train to Busan, Hellbound, Parasyte: The Grey), co-written by Ryu Yong-jae (Parasyte: The Grey, Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Area), and directed by Shinzo Katayama (Missing, Siblings of the Cape, Gannibal). Leading the cast are Shun Oguri and Yu Aoi, who will reunite on screen for the first time in 23 years, marking an exciting return for fans of the duo. The series is produced in association with a global production content company WOW POINT, which garnered global attention with the recent Netflix series Parasyte: The Grey.
Originally directed by Ishiro Honda, the visionary behind Godzilla, The Human Vapor was produced and distributed by Toho, and premiered in 1960. The film became a masterpiece of sci-fi thrillers, renowned for its exploration of power structures and societal oppression. Even more than half a century later, it remains a significant piece of cinema history. The upcoming series will breathe new life into this classic tale, using state-of-the-art VFX and setting the story in modern-day Japan.
Shun Oguri expressed his enthusiasm for the project, saying, "I was captivated by the intriguing developments and the human drama that you would never expect from this title. With the extraordinary talents from both Japan and Korea, along with our incredible Japanese cast, I am beyond excited to be part of building this wonderful work step by step."
Yu Aoi also expressed excitement about the project, saying, "I am looking forward to discovering what kind of experience this will be. While striving to deliver this work to everyone, I also want to maintain the spirit of adventure that is unique to our team."
Yeon, known for his globally acclaimed works, and Katayama, who was previously assistant director to Academy Award-winning director Bong Joon-ho, had worked together on the script for a few years.
Ahead of the start of production, both of them came together at Toho Studio No. 9 in Tokyo - a revered location for special effects films - to discuss how it all started.
In 2018, you met with Toho's producer Nian Feng and chose to work on Human Vapor. What attracted you to it?
Yeon Sang-ho: I've always been a fan of subculture films and have been very intrigued with Toho's special effects movies. Among the proposals from Toho, to reimagine the "Transforming Human Series"*, there was The Human Vapor. It is a 1960 film, but its sci-fi expressions are still impressively skillful. I believed that if it were reborn with modern visuals, it would be truly fascinating.
*The "Transforming Human Series" is a term for genre of the films released by Toho in the 1950s and 1960s, including The Invisible Avenge" (1954), The H-Man (1958), The Secret of the Telegian (1960), and The Human Vapor (1960).
How did Shinzo Katayama end up being the director?
Katayama: I knew about The Human Vapor but hadn't seen it until recently. Watching it, I was intrigued by its blend of human drama and romantic elements, despite featuring an absurd creature like the Human Vapor. I saw the potential to modernize this classic special effects piece with today's VFX CG and incorporate human drama to make it a very compelling work.
Yeon: Toho suggested Katayama's name. I first saw The Wandering Blade (2021), which had also been adapted into a film in Korea, and I found his version most interesting and well-executed. I was impressed by his ability to draw out the characters' emotions and his creative camera work, which attracted me to his directing skills.
Whether he would actually take on the role of directing Human Vapor was another matter, but I personally wanted to connect with him, so I sent him a direct message on Facebook. After watching more of his films like Siblings of the Cape (2019) and Missing (2022), I was convinced that he is indeed an amazing director. As I continue writing the script, I look forward to the new dimensions that Katayama will bring to the project.
You spent about three years working on the script and had a scriptwriting retreat in Korea. Can you share more?
Katayama: Over one and a half to two years, Yeon and writer Ryu Yong-jae wrote the foundational script. After several discussions, we decided to have a scriptwriting retreat in Korea. Considering the cultural nuances between Japan and Korea, we thought it would be easier to finetune the details by discussing them face-to-face.
Yeon: The first challenge was that we, as Koreans, were writing a story set in Japan. To create a new Human Vapor, we watched many Japanese works for inspiration. We had many conversations with Katayama and Toho's producers about how the smallest script details would be perceived in Japan, and we tried to incorporate their feedback which was very helpful. Even though the script was written by foreigners like ourselves, I think it's very important to make the script resonate authentically with Japanese society. We received a lot of assistance from Katayama and the producers at Toho.
What core elements have you both focused on for this new Human Vapor?
Yeon : I spent a long time thinking about the essence of the original The Human Vapor. While it is a sci-fi and thriller, at its core, it is a story about people. We focused on treating human emotions with care and portraying the characters' humanity through the script.
Katayama: I plan to keep that aspect in mind during filming as well. Additionally, I want to accurately depict the social dynamics of contemporary Japanese society, such as the relationships between the powerful and the weak.
Could you also tell us about the casting of Shun Oguri and Yu Aoi?
Yeon: While writing the script, the first actress I thought of was Yu Aoi. I suggested Aoi for a certain role to Katayama. Aoi is very famous in Korea for Hana and Alice (2004), and her recent performances like in Wife of a Spy (2020) have been truly outstanding. I am eager to see her bring my script to life. As for Shun Oguri, a major star in Japan and well-known in Korea, his commitment to Human Vapor felt like a seal of success. When I met him in person, his passion was palpable, and I was very excited.
Katayama: It has been 23 years since Oguri and Aoi last co-starred, and I am very excited to capture the unique chemistry they will bring to this project.
I heard that from the early stages of the project, Yeon repeatedly mentioned that he wished projects could 'start in Asia and stand tall in the world'
Yeon: When I was a university student, I thought that genre works needed the American market to succeed. Now, Korea has developed the supportive environment and technology to create these genre works on its own, and Japan has also evolved to support such creative endeavors. I believe that with the emergence of a platform like Netflix, a solid foundation has been created for people around the world to comfortably enjoy works from Asia. As a creator in today's world, I strive to push myself, believing that our mission is 'to create a work that global audiences can enjoy'.
Katayama: Living in an era where our work can instantly reach a global audience is extraordinary. However, staying true to what we find compelling is essential. The globally recognized works today weren't necessarily aimed at international fame but were born from genuine efforts to create something engaging.
What can we look forward to in this project?
Yeon: It will probably take more than a year before this work is released, but I hope that many people will eagerly anticipate it. I, myself, also can't wait to watch it.
Katayama: We have spent a really long time preparing for this project. We have received special permission to shoot in locations where filming is usually not allowed in Japan. I believe we will deliver visuals that have never been seen before.
*Interviewer: SYO
About Netflix Series Human Vapor
Title: Human Vapor
Executive Producer: Yeon Sang-ho
Director: Shinzo Katayama
Writers: Yeon Sang-ho, Ryu Yong-jae
Cast: Shun Oguri, Yu Aoi
Developed & Presented by: Toho Co., Ltd.
In Association With: WOW POINT
Production Company: TOHO Studios Co., Ltd.
Release: Netflix
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