Netflix has had a lot of success turning anime into live-action shows, and fans are excited for the second season of One Piece next month. But One Piece isn’t the only anime getting this treatment. A different anime series, which hasn’t had any news about a continuation since its first season, is also being adapted into a live-action show. Interestingly, this new adaptation won’t be on Netflix – it’s headed to a different streaming platform instead.
HBO Max is making a live-action series based on the manga Song of the Samurai, originally known as Chiruran: Shinsengumi Requiem. The manga ran for thirty-six volumes from 2010 to 2023, and while an anime adaptation was made in 2017, it only had one short season. This new series will have plenty of source material to work with. Anime fans will be able to watch this fresh take on Chiruran when it premieres on May 9th, and it’s expected to be a hit this summer on HBO Max.
Samurai Are Invading HBO Max
To get audiences ready for their upcoming live-action version of the anime, Warner Bros. has detailed the story of Song of The Samurai. The series brings the rich history of the Shinsengumi to life on screen with exciting action and a fresh take on real events. Set in Kyoto near the end of the Edo period, it focuses on the lives of the Shinsengumi – a famous samurai group that protected the city during the final years of Japan’s feudal system. The story centers on Toshizo Hijikata (played by Yuki Yamada), a tough fighter who discovers a sense of family with Isami Kondo and Soji Okita. Hijikata and his fellow samurai form a strong bond of loyalty, which is challenged by betrayal, sickness, and war, as they battle both external enemies and their own internal struggles.
If you don’t know this anime, you might recognize another popular series by the same creator, Shinya Umemura. He’s also known for Record of Ragnarok, an anime about a war between gods and humans to decide the fate of the world. While Ragnarok doesn’t have a live-action version yet, it’s possible we’ll see it adapted in the future. However, a return for the original Song of The Samurai anime, which first aired in 2017, seems unlikely. LandQ Studios and Crunchyroll haven’t suggested a second season since the show ended.
Excited about the new live-action anime coming in May? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!
Via Warner Bros Discovery
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2026-02-25 20:17