HBO Max has acquired international streaming rights for the Japanese live-action series Song of the Samurai, adapted from Shinya Umemura’s bestselling manga, for over 100 countries.
Song of the Samurai will premiere on HBO Max, part of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), on May 9 in North America, Latin America, Europe, and select regions in Asia.
Produced by Japanese production company The Seven, in collaboration with broadcaster TBS (Tokyo Broadcasting System) and Japanese streaming platform U-Next, the two-part drama is based on the popular historical manga series, which follows a group of samurai warriors during the final years of Japan’s Edo period.
Yuki Yamada stars as Toshizo Hijikata, a rough country boy who rises to become the feared vice-commander of the Shinsengumi. In Japan, the series will air over two nights on TBS before streaming on U-Next.
James Gibbons, President of Asia Pacific at WBD, described the series as a new samurai story deeply rooted in Japanese culture, featuring thrilling action and a charismatic ensemble cast.
Tenshin Tsutsumi, President and Representative Director of U-Next, emphasized that the project was developed with global distribution and integrated broadcasting in mind, aiming to expand the international reach of Japanese content.
