It was revealed on May 31st that "I Should Have Killed My Husband," a popular vertical-scrolling manga currently serialized on LINE Manga, will be adapted into a television drama starring actor Rio Uchida. The story is a time-traveling revenge suspense tale in which the protagonist, Rino, "repeatedly seeks revenge on her unfaithful husband, Keita, and his mistress, Elena, no matter how many times she dies." It was also announced that actor Keisuke Watanabe will play the role of the husband, Keita.
Comments from Ms. Uchida and Ms. Watanabe, as well as visuals that pay homage to the original manga, were also released.
This work is the first joint production between DMM Group's digital comic publisher "CLLENN" and TV Tokyo. Honjo Rino, an ordinary housewife, was supposed to be living a happy married life with her perfect husband, Keita, but one day, a mysterious video site arrives for Rino, and she learns of her husband's betrayal. Rino vows revenge, but after a certain event, she becomes trapped in a "death and return" loop...
"Drama Premier 23 'I Thought I Killed My Husband'" will air on TV Tokyo every Monday at 11:06 PM starting July 6th.
◇Comment from Rio Uchida
I was immediately surprised by the impactful title, and the combination of "adultery x revenge x time travel x suspense"...it's packed with shocking elements!
While it's a revenge drama about infidelity, it also incorporates sci-fi elements like time travel, and has suspenseful and mysterious elements as many mysteries are revealed, so I was completely engrossed as I read the script. The character moves forward while grappling with a variety of emotions such as love, hatred, doubt, and despair, so I'm looking forward to playing the role.
It's not just about the exhilarating feeling of revenge; there are many parts that make you think about things like, "Does revenge really save people?" and "What is love?", and I was completely drawn in. The way the protagonist gradually changes as he relives the same time period over and over is also a highlight, and while it's certainly an exciting suspense story, it's also a work that can be enjoyed as a human drama. Each episode has a shocking development that will make you think, "What's going to happen next!?", so I hope you'll enjoy watching it while also thinking about what will happen next.
Please watch until the very end to see what answers the main character, Rino, will find! We will do our best to create a work that will captivate viewers!
◇Comment from Keisuke Watanabe
I'm Watanabe, and I'll be playing the role of Honjo Keita. I'm thrilled to be involved in another project created by Kurachi-san. Among the themes of infidelity and revenge that we've been seeing a lot lately, this one is a little different. When I read the script, I felt that it was a challenging role to play, as you have to carefully grasp the nuances of each moment or you'll get lost in the story. In many ways, I want to spend each day and each hour carefully and thoroughly. Please look forward to the first broadcast.
◇Comment from the original author, Mana Akaishi
Two years have passed since "Until I Destroy My Husband's Family"... I am filled with surprise and gratitude to have been given the opportunity to have my work adapted into a drama again.
This film, "I Thought I Killed My Husband," is a suspense thriller about infidelity, revenge, and time travel, in which a betrayed wife transforms into a "murderer" after being betrayed by her beloved husband.
All the characters are somewhat flawed; they hurt those they want to love, or they can't let go of those they hate—each of them desperately searching for their own kind of happiness.
Thanks to the efforts of the amazing cast and staff, this is a captivating work that depicts the world of the original story in an even richer way, so as a viewer myself, I can't wait for it to air.
Love and revenge... and what kind of ending awaits this "second chance at life"? I hope you'll watch until the very end!
◇Comment from Yudai Kurachi, program producer and TV Tokyo's Streaming Business Division
Among the many revenge-themed manga out there, Mana Akaishi's work stands out for its excellent and original setting, universal themes, revenge born from deep love, and a whirlwind of events that are intricately interwoven. Above all, I wanted to take on the challenge of adapting such a wonderful original work into a film. I am especially excited to be able to tackle this project with a team of writers led by screenwriter Ichikawa, who writes with a unique style, and a team of directors including Director Iizuka, who always surprises us with his wide range of ideas and innovative directing plans.
The lead role of Rino will be played by Rio Uchida. She is facing the complex role of Rino, who is tossed about by her husband's infidelity and time travel, head-on every day, discussing and meticulously designing the character. And the role of Rino's husband, Keita, will be played by Keisuke Watanabe. When I saw Mr. Watanabe playing Keita during the script reading, I was amazed by the breadth of his acting range. I am very happy to be working with him for the third year in a row, and I am simply in awe of Mr. Watanabe's boundless talent that surprises me every year.
Filming will begin soon, but after an intense preparation period, I feel like a brand new drama unlike anything you've ever seen is about to be born, and I'm really looking forward to it! In this hot summer, I hope you'll enjoy "I Killed My Husband," a story packed with intense emotions and human relationships, both the manga and the drama every week. Please look forward to it!
