It has been revealed that the "Reze" chapter of Tatsuki Fujimoto's popular manga "Chainsaw Man" will be adapted for the stage. The animated film version of "Reze" was released on September 19th and has been a huge hit, grossing over 9.61 billion yen in 87 days. This will be the first time "Chainsaw Man" has been adapted for the stage since the first installment, "Chainsaw Man The Stage," which was performed in Tokyo and Kyoto from September to October 2023. The second installment, "Reze," will be performed in Tokyo and Kyoto from July to August 2026.
Following on from the first installment, Naotake Tsuchiya will play Denji, Mizuki Umezu will play Aki, Mahiru Koda will play Power, and Aya Hirano will play Makima. Scriptwriter and director Fumiya Matsuzaki, music composer Shunsuke Wada, and choreographer HIDALI will also be appearing.
Tsuchiya, who plays Denji, commented, "First of all, I am truly happy to be able to bring Chainsaw Man The Stage to everyone again, and to continue to perform in the sequel. The Reze Arc, which is currently receiving a great response from the public, is being adapted for the stage, and just imagining it will allow me to once again experience the excitement and expression that is unique to the stage that I felt in the first installment makes me want to perform it as soon as possible! The Reze Arc is full of encounters and events that will be turning points for Denji, so I would like to perform it carefully while pushing myself to the limit. The entire company will work hard to reach as many people as possible, so I would appreciate your support."
Umezu, who plays Aki, said, "It's been two years since the last production. I'm trembling with excitement at the thought of being able to throw myself into that excitement again. When I close one eye, I see countless demons behind it. It's as if I can even feel the trembling of that huge stage set rotating. I'm constantly trembling. It's a shame I couldn't bear it any longer and had to cut my hair, but I'll be able to get it done in time for the performance."
Koda, who plays Power, commented, "It was my first stage experience, so I am truly happy to have been chosen to appear in the sequel to such an important work. Not only am I thrilled to be able to experience my time as Power again, but I am also looking forward to being able to share that world with everyone once again. I hope you will look forward to our portrayal of ' Chainsaw Man' The Stage!"
Hirano, who plays Makima, said, "Two years have passed since the premiere, and the animated film has become an explosive hit all over the world, so I am happy to be able to announce a new work and to be able to return to this world once again. When the premiere came around, it was my first time appearing in a 2.5-dimensional stage production, and I was inspired by the company's attitude of working with the desire to 'revolutionize 2.5-dimensional'. As new characters are added in the 'Reze' arc, I want to keep the feeling of the premiere in mind and lead the team as Makima, ensuring that the production becomes a dynamic and creative environment. In a sense, this production will test the presence of Makima, who resides in Denji's heart. I will take a wait-and-see approach, but also take an aggressive stance."
"Chainsaw Man" is a dark hero action story that follows Denji, a boy possessed by a demon, as he works as a devil hunter. Part 1 was serialized in "Weekly Shonen Jump" (Shueisha) from December 2018 to December 2020. Part 2 has been serialized on Shueisha's manga app "Shonen Jump+" since July 2022. The total number of copies of the comics published is over 34 million. The TV anime aired from October to December 2022.
