With ‘One Piece’ Success, Netflix Sets Live-Action ‘Yu Yu Hakusho’ As Next Hit With New Trailer

With live-action manga and anime adaptations having a spotty record, the latest ‘One Piece‘ series gave fans a good dose of positivity. In quick succession, it looks like ‘Yu Yu Hakusho‘ is seeking to ride off that wave of goodwill as we head into its 14 December 2023 release following the trailer drop during Netflix’s Geeked Week –

Based on the read of the space, Yu Yu Hakusho has big shoes to fill. But, publicity pushing the show is ramping up too close to its release which might signal that between One Piece and Yu Yu Hakusho, the bet was placed on the pirate adventure series achieving greater success.

In the same week, Netflix’s own Avatar: The Last Airbender trailer dropped as well marking a week filled with high expectations.

Stepping in the role of protagonist Yusuke Urameshi, Takumi Kitamura (live-action Tokyo Revengers, Let Me Eat Your Pancreas). Other cast members include Jun Shison (Bubble, Battle of Supreme High) as the fox demon Kurama; Kanata Hongo (Kingdom, Attack on Titan) as Hiei, the Master of the Evil Eye; and Shuhei Uesugi as Kazuma Kurabawa.

Yu Yu Hakusho follows the story of 14-year-old Yusuke Urameshi who dies while saving a child from a car accident. As a delinquent in real life, he is informed that his act of altruism has caught the Underworld by surprise, resulting in there not being a place in either heaven or hell for Yusuke. Thus, he is offered a chance to return back to the land of the living as a “Spirit Detective”, tasked with investigating various supernatural activities within the human realm. 

Illustrated by Yoshihiro Togashi, who is also the manga artist behind Hunter x Hunter, Yu Yu Hakusho was published between 1990 to 1994. Its immense popularity led to it receiving several adaptations, including a television anime, two movies, and two original video anime (OVA) releases.

All the trailer is missing now is its iconic theme song.

Gerald

Gerald currently straddles between his love of video games and board gaming. There’s nothing that interests him more than trying out the newest and fanciest gadget in town as well. He dreams of publishing a board game sometime in the future!