Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima is known among fans for his penchant for films and series. Often, Kojima can be seen giving his reviews via his X account, praising or expressing his disappointment. But the latest series to have secured a thumbs-up from him is Netflix’s Last Samurai Standing.
I binged “Ikusagami (Last Samurai Standing)” up through episode 6! It was so good. I love the Yamada Futaro × Squid Game kind of worldbuilding. The cutbacks between the Kodoku-game side, the organizers, and the government side all move with great pacing.
And they don’t hesitate to kill off well-drawn characters (with a stacked cast) either. The “Tsubaki Sanjūrō”-style directing moment made my heart skip.
In a tweet dated November 15, the video game creator praised the series’ world-building, pacing, and well-drawn characters. Stating that he wants to know what happens next, he might read the original novel since a potential next season is still a long way off.
Last Samurai Standing Is Netflix’s Latest Novel-Based Adaptation
Based on Shogo Imamura’s 2022 historical fiction novel, Ikusagami, Last Samurai Standing falls in the long list of Netflix’s book-based adaptations. The streaming giant is known for its adaptation of several acclaimed and lesser-known titles across the years.
Set in 1878 Japan, the series takes place after the feudal period, where Samurai have fallen from their ranks as the society is rapidly modernizing. But then comes the Kodoku competition, where 292 samurai must battle, and the last one standing gets a grand prize.
The live-action adaptation of the novel, which has also been adapted into a popular manga, has won the hearts of fans and critics alike. Currently, it has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from film critics, with many of them praising its impressive world-building, authenticity, elaborate fight scenes, and rich characters.
While a second season has not been confirmed so far, there is a possibility we might get an announcement soon.
Apart from this series, other recent book-based adaptations on Netflix include the series One Hundred Years of Solitude, based on the book by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Frankenstein, the film based on Mary Shelley’s book, the film The Thursday Murder Club, based on Richard Osman’s novel, The Perfect Couple, a series based on Elin Hilderbrand’s novel, and more.
Last Samurai Standing Actor Wants Characters to Have Special Powers in Season 2
For those who are well aware of the original source, they might know that many of the characters have distinct superpowers. Recently, actor, producer, and action choreographer for the series, Junichi Okada, revealed the plans for a potential Last Samurai Standing Season 2 to The Hollywood Reporter.
While discussing the key changes between the source, the manga, and the live-action adaptation, he stated:
The actual source material is the novel, and then there also is a manga, but, in the original, the characters have special powers. For our show, for the first season, we don’t have superpowers [for the characters], But, if Last Samurai Standing is very popular and well received, and if we were to continue on to the second season, there may be a possibility that we might be introducing some of those aspects.
As for why they decided not to include the same in the first season, Okada revealed that they wanted to make the series feel more real. While there hasn’t been a confirmation for a second season, fans are eagerly waiting to see what will take place next.
What are your thoughts about the series? Let us know in the comments below.
Last Samurai Standing is now available for streaming on Netflix.
