In celebration of Osamu Tezuka’s 90th birthday, they are adapting his Barbara manga into a live-action film. However, they’re not just making anyone direct it though, because Tezuka’s own son, Macoto, is directing it himself! 24-year-old actress Fumi Nikaido will be playing the titular Barbara, while former SMAP member Goro Inagaki is playing protagonist Yosuke Mikura. And now, the film’s staff have even released a new visual featuring the two leads. They also launched a teaser trailer as well:

The film will also boast an international staff, including acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Doyle, who’s serving as director of photography.

Shogakukan launched the Tezuka manga back in 1973 inside the pages of Big Comic magazine. It then ended its run in 1974. Here’s how they describe the manga’s story:

Wandering the packed tunnels of Shinjuku Station, famous author Yosuke Mikura makes a strange

discovery: a ragged hippie who can quote French poetry. Her name is Barbara. He takes her home for

a bath and a drink, and before long Barbara has made herself into Mikura’s shadow, saving him from

egotistical delusions and jealous enemies. But just as Mikura is no saint, Barbara is no guardian angel,

and Mikura grows obsessed with discovering her secrets, tangling with thugs, sadists, magical curses

and mythical beings – all the while wondering whether he himself is still sane.  

source: Comic Natalie