Warner Bros. Japan has released the official trailer for Hideki Takeuchi’s live-action adaptation of the bestselling manga ‘Cells at Work!’ by Akane Shimizu, along with its spin-off, ‘Cells at Work! Code Black,’ created by Shigemitsu Harada and Issei Hatsuyoshiya. Both works vividly personify the body’s defenses, such as red and white blood cells, to portray life within the human body.
Synopsis: High school student Niko (Mana ASHIDA) lives with her father, Shigeru (Sadao ABE). Because of Niko’s diligent nature and her healthy lifestyle, the cells inside her body are always working joyfully. Meanwhile, inside Shigeru’s body, the cells are always complaining, exhausted from the brutal working environment, as he leads an irregular and unhealthy life. On the outside they may look like a happy father and daughter, but on the inside their bodily environments couldn’t be more different. As their lively days go on, pathogens start to sneak up on their bodies… The most epic battle in the history of human cells, with the future of Niko and Shigeru at stake, is about to begin!
‘Cells at Work!’ was originally written and illustrated by Shimizu and ran in Kodansha’s Monthly Shōnen Sirius from 2015 to 2021. The manga was then adapted into an anime in 2018.
Yuichi Tokunaga, who previously worked with Takeuchi on Fly Me to the Saitama along with Lupin’s Daughter, wrote the film’s screenplay.
The cast includes Mei Nagano and Takeru Satoh as the leads alongside Mana Ashida, Koji Yamamoto, Riisa Naka, Wakana Matsumoto, Shota Sometani, Rihito Itagaki, Ryo Kato, Seishiro Kato, Maika Pugh, Kyoko Fukada, Ainosuke Kataoka, Shinya Niiro, Maju Ozawa, Shingo Tsurumi, Ken Mitsuishi, Fukase (SEKAI NO OWARI), and Sadawo Abe.
‘Cells at Work!’ will be released in theaters in Japan on December 13, 2024. As of this writing there is no news for North American screenings.
Cells at Work! Movie Poster (Source: Warner Bros. Japan)
