Tomorrow Studios is working on a live-action version of the anime Samurai Champloo, with creator Shinichirō Watanabe involved in the project. The studio's leaders discussed their approach after learning from past adaptations. This follows the success of their Netflix series One Piece.
Tomorrow Studios, known for its anime-to-live-action projects, has begun early development on a live-action adaptation of the cult anime Samurai Champloo. Original series creator Shinichirō Watanabe is attached to the effort, marking a more hands-on role for him compared to previous works.
Executive producers Marty Adelstein and Becky Clements shared details with Variety. They met Watanabe over dinner in Japan and expressed their desire for his creative input. "We had dinner with [Watanabe] in Japan and said, if we move forward on doing ‘Samurai Champloo,’ we really want you to be a part of the creative," Clements said. "We were thrilled that he was willing to do that."
The project aims to preserve the anime's core elements while updating it for modern television viewers. Music will play a key role, echoing the original's hip-hop-inflected score, with plans to involve a major recording artist to define the sound. Although still in early stages, the studio has fielded numerous inquiries from potential partners without yet pitching to networks.
This initiative builds on lessons from Tomorrow Studios' prior adaptation of Watanabe's Cowboy Bebop for Netflix in 2021, which ended after one season partly due to limited creator involvement. "We’ve learned," Adelstein noted. "Having the creator there to bless the creative is really important."
The approach mirrors the studio's success with One Piece, where manga creator Eiichiro Oda served as an active producer. Season 1 of that series, released in 2023, topped charts in over 75 countries, including Japan, and amassed more than 100 million views. Season 2 premiered on Netflix with episodes in theaters starting March 10, 2026, introducing new cast members like Katey Sagal and Joe Manganiello, and featuring enhanced effects for characters such as Tony Tony Chopper. Season 3 is already in production.
Tomorrow Studios, a partnership between Adelstein and ITV Studios, continues to expand with other projects like So Far Gone for Netflix and adaptations for Apple TV+.
