The Japanese popular manga series written by Tite Kubo “Bleach” has been around for over 15 years. It sold more than 85 million copies in Japan, and won the Shogakukan Manga Award in 2005. The main character Ichigo Kurosaki obtains the powers of a Soul Reaper, also known as Shinigami (Death God). His new form of existence has him going on adventures to protect humans from evil spirits and guiding departed souls to the afterlife. Bleach is extremely popular being not part of the family of Shonen manga magazine, but also highly popular in both Japan and United States.

It’s not like fans ever asked for it, but surprisingly, a Bleach live-action movie has been quietly announced to be shown at all theaters in 2018.

The movie will star Sota Fukushi as the protagonist Ichigo Kurosaki. A professional popular actor who appears his faces a lot in recent Japanese TV drama.

Bleach creator Tite Kubo felt as an original creator, with the assistance of production, it would not only bring more excitement to the Bleach fans as the manga is finally ending, but allow people who never knew about Bleach to enjoy as well.

“My only concern is about the hair color“ Kubo wrote. “If that hair color is in live-action, it’d be strange, so I wonder what they’re going to do!”

So far, although the whole team of cast members hasn’t been announced, the director behind the production will be Shinusuke Sato, who directed the live-action Gantz, and followed up with a close October end of release on the movie Deathnote: Light Up The New World. Bleach fans are unexpectedly excited about the live-action movie happening, while keeping fingers crossed to hope it doesn’t depart from what they originally enjoyed.