The new cast for the live-action short drama "Cutie Honey: Believed Enemy" (DMM TV), based on Go Nagai's popular manga "Cutie Honey," starring model Natsuki Abe, has been announced. Gravure idol Rina Hashimoto, known as "Naniwa's Black Diamond," will play Kuroo Hyoko, the main character Honey Kisaragi's greatest enemy.
Hyoko is a ruthless female CEO who has taken over Honey's father's company, Kisaragi Technology, and is plotting to take over the world. Visuals have been released of her in an elegant CEO outfit, as well as a seductive villain clad in a mask and a tight suit.
Hashimoto commented, "I have watched all the anime and live-action films that have been released so far. The role of Kuroo Hyoko is a completely original character this time, but villains appear in all of the works, so I used that as reference!"
"When you think of superhero stories, you probably think of men, but Cutie Honey is a world where women are strong! I think it's very relevant to the times we live in. It's a work that I want women as well as men to watch," she said.
It was also announced that Kitamura Yui will play Aki Natsuko, a senior employee who supports Honey, former AKB48 member Katayama Haruka will play Tsuneni Miharu, the sales manager who torments Honey and Natsuko with power harassment, and Shimizu Genta will play Hayami Seiji, a mysterious newspaper reporter who secretly helps Honey.
"Cutie Honey: Believed Enemy" is an original story that includes new developments not found in the original work. Kisaragi Honey (played by Abe), the daughter of a large company president who lived a life of luxury, suddenly finds herself plunged into poverty one day. Her true identity is an android created using the "Air Element Fixation Device," and as "Cutie Honey, the warrior of love," she carries out her late father's will and punishes evil villains. There are 15 episodes in total. It will be available exclusively on "DMM Shorts" from noon on November 25th.
