Kenichi Matsuyama and Shota Sometani to Star in Live-Action Adaptation of ‘Saint☆Young Men’

The first live-action film of ‘Saint☆Young Men’ will open in theaters nationwide on December 20 (Friday).

Hikaru Nakamura’s gag manga “Saint☆Young Men” has surpassed 17 million copies in circulation. The manga portrays Jesus Christ and Gautama Buddha, who have enlightened Buddhism, enjoying a vacation in the mortal realm while cohabiting in a small, bathless apartment in Tachikawa, Tokyo. The upcoming film adaptation, “Saint☆Young Men: The Movie – Holy Men vs. Devilish Legion,” showcases a specially crafted storyline by Nakamura, tailored for the feature-length format.

Renowned director and screenwriter Yuichi Fukuda, celebrated for his comedic prowess in works like the “Gintama” series, “My Brother’s Friend: The Movie,” and “The New Interpretation: Romance of the Three Kingdoms,” leads the project. Kenichi Matsuyama takes on the role of Jesus, complete with his signature long hair, beard, and crown of thorns, portraying the carefree “Son of God” enjoying a vacation in the mortal realm with comedic flair. Shota Sometani embodies Buddha, known for his spiral hair, white pupil, and elongated earlobes, depicting the “Enlightened One” who worries about finances like a typical housewife. This film adaptation reunites the core team behind the acclaimed drama series “Saint☆Young Men,” overseen by executive producer Takayuki Yamada in 2018, which expanded its success to “The Third Era.” Yamada also serves as a producer for the live-action film adaptation.

In conjunction with the announcement of the film adaptation, three new visuals were unveiled, accompanied by remarks from Matsuyama, Sometani, and Director Fukuda, along with footage from an exclusive roundtable discussion. Additionally, commencing on May 23, 2024, and recurring monthly on the 23rd thereafter, designated as “Brother’s Day,” the most recent developments regarding the movie will be disclosed.

St. ☆ Oniisan
Saint☆Young Men It’s becoming a movie! This time, we’ll be out of the room and doing various things! And various charming characters will appear! Buddha played by Sometani (Real Buddha) and me playing Jesus (Johnny Depp-like) are supposed to be on vacation in the mortal realm, but we get caught up in the divine schemes of the heavenly gods, and a grand project begins. The civilizations of the time they lived in and the present day are completely different, and the way they adapt flexibly to the generation gap will surely bring smiles to all the audience!

Kenichi Matsuyama play as Jesus

It’s incredible! “Saint☆Young Men” is being adapted into a movie! Working with Director Fukuda and Matsuyama-san, goofing around on set felt like a rewarding time. Expect some laid-back conversations between Jesus and Buddha on the screen. But wait, there’s more than meets the eye! For this film adaptation, we have the original story penned by the esteemed Hikaru Nakamura-sensei, delivering it on a grand scale! (Rest assured, the vacation vibe of Jesus and Buddha remains unchanged.) And can you believe it? The cast is so star-studded that I had to pinch myself to check if it was real! There’s nothing but blessings and gratitude to be found in a movie like this. Please come to the theater and receive some blessings with us!

Comment from Shota Sometani as Buddha

“Saint☆Young Men” gets its first live-action adaptation! I never imagined it would become a movie… Working on this film with big fans like Matsuyama-kun and Sometani-kun has been an incredibly moving experience! Truth be told, when I first heard about the movie adaptation, I thought it might be challenging since the original manga consists entirely of short stories. However, Nakamura-sensei, the creator of the original manga, drew a long episode titled “The Long Road to the Screen” specifically for the movie adaptation, which made this project possible. It’s been a while since I’ve worked on a comedy-focused film, and I found myself laughing a lot while editing. With giant robots and action scenes, I believe this movie will be enjoyable not only for adults but also for children. I hope families will come and see it together!

Writer/Director: Yuichi Fukuda Comment

Saint☆Young Men THE MOVIE

Original story: ‘Saint☆Young Men’ by Hikaru Nakamura (serialized in Kodansha’s “Morning Two”)
Writer/Director: Yuichi Fukuda
Cast: Kenichi Matsuyama, Shota Sometani
Producer: Naoaki Kitajima, Shinzo Matsuhashi, Daizo Suzuki, Takayuki Yamada
Production: “Saint Nick” Film Partners
Production: Credeus
Distribution: Toho
Release Date: December 20, 2024 (Friday)
■Filming Period: November 2023 – December 2023
■Copyright: ©Nakamura Hikaru/Kodansha ©2024 “St. John the Divine” Film Partners
■Official website: http://saint023movie.jp/
■Official X: https://twitter.com/saint023movie
■Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saint023movie

In the vast expanse of the universe, among countless stars illuminating brilliantly, there lies Earth, the planet of vibrant life. Jesus, the Son of God who safely traversed the end of the century, and Buddha, who attained enlightenment, quietly enjoyed a vacation in the mortal realm while experiencing the changing seasons of Japan. Sharing a bathless six-tatami-mat apartment in Tachikawa, Tokyo, they lived together, sharing ice cream, enjoying lucky draws in the nearby shopping district, and even forming a comedy duo called “Punch and Long-Haired.” One day, an unwelcome guest arrives, bearing shocking news. Soon, it becomes intertwined with an unpredictable “holy war” involving gods, Buddhas, angels, and demons that will determine the fate of the world. In this impermanent world of endless change, as the final judgment approaches, the peace of Earth is once again entrusted to Jesus and Buddha!