Before we begin, a message from our editor regarding live-action film dubs:
Yesterday, Funimation unveiled the English dub cast for the Rurouni Kenshin live-aciton films. The movies will star the following:
- Kenshin Himura: Micah Solusod
- Kaoru Kamiya: Alexis Tipton
- Sanosuke Sagara: Eric Vale
- Megumi Takani: Trina Nishimura
- Yahiko Myojin: Alison Viktorin
- Hajime Saito: Robert McCollum
- Jin’e Udo: John Swasey
- Gein: Josh Grelle
- Banjin Inui: MARCUS STIMAC
- Aritomo Yamagata: Kent Williams
- Kanryu Takeda: J. Michael Tatum
Zach Bolton and Joel McDonald are directing the adaptation, while the team of Cris George and Peter Hawkinson serve as ADR Engineers. Funimation will release the first film on DVD and Blu-Ray on November 1, under the title Rurouni Kenshin Part I: Origins.
Funimation kicked off a theatrical run for all three titles, with the first film running from August 8 – 10. The movies will be shown in subtitled format, with the remaining screening dates as follows:
- Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno: 9/12/2016 – 9/14/2016
- Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends 10/3/2016 – 10/5/2016
The three Rurouni Kenshin films adapt Nobuhiro Watsuki’s manga of the same name. Keishi Ōtomo directed all three features, which were produced by Warner Brothers. Osamu Kubota was tapped as producer on the project, while the team of Kiyomi Fujii and Keishi Otomo wrote the scripts. Kenjin Tanigaki (Blade II, Ip Man) served as action director on all three movies.
Takeru Satoh played the lead role as Kenshin in the films. He performed opposite Emi Takei, who played Kaoru Kamiya.
Rurouni Kenshin: Origins opened in Japanese theaters on August 25, 2012. The feature, which had a budget of $20 million, grossed $61.7 million box office revenues. Sequel film Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno opened in August 2014. The film, which shared a $30 million budget with Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends, took in $52.9 million in global box office revenues. Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends debuted a month later, on September 13, 2014. The feature took in $42.7 million in global ticket sales.
All three films received theatrical runs in the United Kingdom, with Warner Brothers handling distribution in the region.
Funimation describes the Rurouni Kenshin trilogy as:
In the wake of a brutal civil war, Kenshin Himura, once a feared killer, turns his back on bloodshed and vows to carry a reversed-edge blade for the rest of his days. But Kenshin soon finds that the world around him is greatly changed. Rapid modernization has given rise to new villains driven by power and greed—and from the shadows of the past, the famed assassin Makoto Shishio has returned to wreak havoc across Japan. Together, with the beautiful kendo instructor Kaoru and a colorful cast of allies, Kenshin embarks on a quest to protect the innocent from those that would do them harm. In a staggering display of swordplay and martial arts mastery, Kenshin will attempt to survive his promise to face his own blade—before spilling the blood of his enemies!
