It has been announced that the popular children's novel series "Fushigi Dagashiya Zenitendo" (Kaiseisha), which has also been made into an anime, will be made into a live-action movie. The movie will be released on December 13th as "Fushigi Dagashiya Zenitendo". Set in the mysterious candy store Zenitendou, the movie depicts the events that happen to people who buy "mysterious candy" that grants wishes, and it has been announced that actress Yuki Amami will play the candy store owner, Beniko. A teaser visual and video have also been released, showing Amami's Beniko standing in the store holding a cat.
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"Fushigi Dagashiya Zenitendo" is a popular children's book series written by Reiko Hiroshima and illustrated by jyajya, with the novels first being published in 2013. Popular mainly among children, the series has sold a total of approximately 8.5 million copies worldwide. In 2022, it won first place in the 3rd "Elementary School Students' Choice! Children's Book General Election." The novels are still being published, and a new chapter in the series began in April of this year. An animated film was screened at the Toei Manga Festival in 2020, and a TV anime began in September 2020. It has also been adapted into a stage play and a game.
The live-action film will be directed by Hideo Nakata, known for films such as "Ring" and "Stolen Identity" and the screenplay will be written by Reiko Yoshida known for her work on the series composition of the anime "Violet Evergarden" and the script for "A Silent Voice."
Amami commented, "When I was offered the role of Beniko, I was a little surprised and wondered, 'Am I the right person for the role?'...but I was also very excited. The original work is popular around the world and has also been made into an animated film, so I tried to act in a way that would not ruin the image of Beniko that fans have."
"This time, it took nearly three hours for each shoot with special makeup and preparation, and I became Beniko, but it was a lot of fun! Director Nakata's passion and vitality pulled me along, and it was a wonderful, passionate set. I had hoped that I would be able to work with Director Nakata someday, so I was very happy. It's a work with a truly wonderful world view and a lot to learn from it, so I think it will be enjoyable for adults as well as children. I hope you will look forward to it."