Yeon Sang-ho and Katayama Shinzo Team Up for ‘Gas Human’ Coming to Netflix on July 2!

‘Gas Human’ tells the story of a mysterious entity capable of freely transforming their body into gas. The plot kicks off with a shocking incident where a person suddenly explodes during a live broadcast, followed by a series of announced serial killings that plunge Japanese society into extreme fear and chaos. While it takes motif from the legendary Japanese tokusatsu film ‘Gas Human No. 1’ (1960), the world-building and story have been modernized to create a completely new work.

This project is generating huge buzz as it blends the distinct styles of Korean and Japanese genre cinema. Director Yeon Sang-ho, known for combining original world-building with sharp social messages in ‘Train to Busan,’ ‘Hellbound,’ and ‘Parasyte: The Grey,’ serves as the executive producer and screenwriter, bringing his unique imagination to the table. Director Katayama Shinzo, who has relentlessly explored human madness and anxiety in works like ‘Kannibal,’ ‘Siblings on the Edge,’ and ‘Disappearance,’ will direct, adding a heavy sense of tension.

The most eye-catching part is the casting of the title role. Newcomer Uta has been cast as the ‘Gas Human,’ marking their acting debut. The production team reportedly focused on finding an actor who was a “blank slate” without preconceived notions, which led to Uta’s selection. With a mysterious aura, overwhelming visuals, and an eerie presence, Uta is expected to leave a strong impression as the core of the series.

The supporting cast is equally star-studded. Leading Japanese actors Oguri Shun and Aoi Yu will play Detective Okamoto Kenji and Reporter Kono Kyoko, respectively, marking their first live-action reunion in 23 years. Hirose Suzu and Hayashi Kento will play streaming creator siblings tracking the case, while Takenouchi Yutaka adds a powerful presence as a CEO of a listed company with a Yakuza background.

The visual quality is another major highlight. VFX studio Shirogumi, which won the first-ever Academy Award for Best Visual Effects for a Japanese film with ‘Godzilla Minus One,’ participated to implement an overwhelming scale and realism. Fans are eager to see how ‘Gas Human,’ a blend of Korean dystopian imagination and Japan’s signature chilling genre sensibility, will impact global viewers.

Meanwhile, the 1960 tokusatsu film ‘Gas Human No. 1,’ which served as the basis for this series, is part of Toho’s transforming human series. It was a collaboration between the master of tokusatsu, Director Ishiro Honda, and special effects director Eiji Tsuburaya. It is praised as a masterpiece that goes beyond a simple monster or SF movie by combining tragic romance with social criticism.