It has been announced that actress Fumino Kimura and singer GACKT will appear in the drama series "Consultant - The Man Who Writes About Death -" (WOWOW), starring Kentaro Ito. This will be the first time that Ito, Kimura, and GACKT have worked together. The main visual and a Teaser trailer have also been released.
It was also announced that GACKT will be performing the theme song for the film. The theme song is "FALL AGAIN," a new song written specifically for this film, his first new song in nine years. GACKT revealed that he wrote the lyrics during filming, and commented, "Like the protagonist Izaki, you can't escape once you've stepped into a place. I think I was able to express the cries of the heart and the internal conflict as you keep falling." The theme song is also featured in the Teaser trailer that was released.
The drama is based on Im Sung-soon's novel "The Consultant" (Japanese translation: "Assassination Consultant"). Izaki Yo (played by Ito), an unremarkable man aspiring to be a mystery novelist, is dragged into a mysterious organization called "The Company" and transformed into an assassination consultant specializing in writing "perfect assassination scenarios" that no one will notice. However, he gradually becomes entangled in an overwhelming evil and finds himself with no escape. It is a dark suspense drama depicting people being tossed about in the darkness of a capitalist society where even "death" becomes a commodity.
Kimura plays Saki Mizuhata, a manager dispatched from "The Company" to monitor Izaki. Saki appears as Izaki's "ideal woman," and their relationship becomes one that is neither clearly friend nor foe.
GACKT, making his first appearance in a WOWOW drama, will play Akifumi Kurokawa, a mysterious man who discovers Izaki's talent as a novelist but uses that talent for the sake of "The Company," constantly manipulating Izaki. Regarding Kurokawa, who is the catalyst for Izaki becoming an assassination consultant and is a key figure in the story, Ito commented, "When I read the script, my first thought was, 'Who's going to play Kurokawa?' Then, when I heard that GACKT would be playing him, I was very excited." GACKT also expressed his enthusiasm, saying, "Kurokawa is a very mysterious and dangerous character, and it's hard to tell what he's thinking. I thought this role would be challenging and worthwhile, so I decided to give it a try."
The released main visual captures the mysterious and thrilling world of the film. The yellowish hues of Ito, Kimura, and GACKT are striking, as if they are sounding an alarm. Between Kimura and GACKT, who wear defiant smiles, Ito looks straight at the viewer, his expression one can only imagine—despair, resignation, or perhaps a plea for salvation.
The Teaser trailer, featuring the theme song, shows Izaki being quickly swept up in unexpected circumstances after his talent is recognized by Kurokawa, all set to GACKT's powerful music. Kurokawa asks cryptically, "Do you dislike murder?", Saki smiles and extends her hand, and she hands Izaki a mysterious envelope. What kind of influence will these two have on Izaki?
"Continuous Drama W Consultant - The Man Who Writes About Death -" will air and stream every Sunday at 10 PM on WOWOW Prime and WOWOW On Demand starting June 7th. It will consist of 6 episodes. The first episode will be broadcast and streamed for free.
◇Comment from Fumino Kimura
--Please tell us how you felt when you were chosen to appear in the show.
It's a very challenging project, so I was excited to see how it would turn out.
--What are your thoughts on working with Kentaro Ito?
On the day I started filming, Ito-san, who was doing my makeup next to me, mentioned that she was going surfing in the ocean. Since I also do diving, I thought, "We're ocean buddies!" and suddenly the barrier between us disappeared. We had seen each other before, but we had never worked together on a project. However, neither of us were nervous or awkward; we were able to film together feeling like we were working with a friendly older brother.
--What are your thoughts on performing with GACKT-san?
I was incredibly nervous. Ever since seeing GACKT-san speak several languages perfectly in the movie "Fly Me to the Saitama," I've had the impression that he must be a perfect person. I thought he would surely come prepared with every single line of dialogue perfectly in order. However, I had heard beforehand that "GACKT-san is a very cute person," and right before our scene together, the director and staff also told me that "he's a charming person," so I wasn't too nervous on the day of the shoot. Most of our scenes together were inside a car, so there wasn't much flashy movement, but we were constantly discussing with the staff what we could do within that space. I learned so much from their meticulousness in figuring out how to convey something without much movement.
-- Do you have a message for our viewers?
The story might make you think, "Could something like this really happen?", but when you actually witness it, you'll find yourself thinking, "It's not so far-fetched after all." It's a challenging work as a film, but I'm sure you'll be completely immersed in its world, so please look forward to it.
◇GACKT's comment
--Please tell us how you felt when you were chosen to appear in the show.
I wondered, "What kind of drama will this be?" and read the script once, and I thought it was quite interesting. Also, the character I play, Kurokawa, is very mysterious and dangerous, and it's hard to tell what he's thinking, so I thought this role would be worth playing and I'd like to try it.
--Please tell us your thoughts after finishing the shoot.
The lines are long. They're unbelievably long. And they're explanatory lines. Then they tell us we have to film them all in one day, which makes me so frustrated! But I have no choice, so I prepare thoroughly. Thanks to that, there was one day when we finished an incredible seven hours ahead of schedule. That was probably the power of anger.
--What are your thoughts on working with Kentaro Ito?
Kurokawa's role involved very few scenes with the other cast members, but Kentaro is an actor I admire. When I first met him, I thought he was a really nice guy, and I wondered if I really had to drag such a wonderful person down the path of evil... I thought it was the perfect role for me (laughs). Izaki, played by Kentaro, is very expressive, and his acting is understated, making it difficult to tell what he's thinking, which is in stark contrast to my own acting, and I think it made for a good contrast.
--Please tell us about the theme song.
I wrote the lyrics while filming the drama. Like the main character Izaki, I can't escape once I've stepped into a place, and I'm spiraling downwards. I think I was able to express the cries of the heart and the internal conflict that comes with that. The song is structured with a mix of intensity, chaos, and conflict, so please look forward to it.
-- Do you have a message for our viewers?
As they say in the drama, a mystery is supposed to be about the police or a great detective not overlooking a small mistake made by the culprit, and how that is ultimately overturned, giving the viewer catharsis. However, the point of this drama is that Izaki's talent is used for murder in order to commit the perfect crime, and he becomes tainted by this world. I think the depiction of Izaki's struggles and where his story leads is very interesting. There aren't many dramas like this, so I really hope it becomes a series. I wonder what will happen in the second season. It would be great if there was a second season.
