A live-action TV drama adaptation of 07th Expansion’s murder mystery visual novel series, Higurashi: When They Cry is currently in the works, and it will star the idols from the AKB48 sister group, the Niigata-based NGT48. The roles for the characters were determined via audition, and the actresses for several of the roles have finally been announced:

Minami Kato as Rena Ryuugu

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Rika Nakai as BOTH Mion Sonozaki and Shion Sonozaki

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Reina Seiji as Satoko Houjou

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Hinata Honma as Rika Furude

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Rie Kitahara as Miyo Takano

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Moeka Takakura as the “Mysterious Girl”

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Be prepared to see these idols like you’ve never seen this before, as the Higurashi franchise has been known for its extreme amounts of gore and violence, with the characters often becoming murderous and psychotic. In fact, the TV drama’s producers have boasted that the show will be an “extreme experience” which is unlike anything seen on Japanese TV before.

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Toru Otsuka and Taro Miyaoka will co-direct the live-action TV drama, which is scheduled to begin airing on May 2016. It will run for eight episodes, with each episode to run for 60 minutes.

The original visual novel was released back in 2002, and it moved on to spawn various sequels and spin-offs, as well as two very successful TV anime, a live-action movie, a manga, and a light novel series. So, do you think these idols can pull off the YANDERE and psychotic female characters from Higurashi? Looks like we are about to find out this May.

Source: Netlab