Pictures courtesy of Netflix
It’s time to head back to Shinjuku. Following the massive success of the 2024 live-action adaptation, Netflix has officially confirmed that City Hunter 2 is currently in production.
The original, which debuted to mostly positive reviews on April 25th, 2024, served as one of the numerous adaptations of the manga by Tsukasa Hojo. The synopsis reads, “An exceptional marksman and hopeless playboy, private eye Ryo Saeba reluctantly forms an alliance with his late partner’s sister to investigate his death.”
If you were among the millions of viewers who propelled the first City Hunter film to the top of the global charts (it spent 3 weeks there, clocking 23.1M hours watched and 13.3M views), you’ll be thrilled to know that Ryo Saeba is officially back on the clock. It. Since its release, according to the Netflix Engagement Reports, it’s gone on to clock 26.1M views through the end of 2025.
Who is returning for City Hunter 2?
The core team that made the first film a smash hit is reuniting for this follow-up.
Ryohei Suzuki is set to reprise his role as the legendary and goofy Ryo Saeba. Joining him is Misato Morita, returning as his partner, the indomitable Kaori Makimura, along with Fumino Kimura as the “no-nonsense detective” Saeko Nogami.
Behind the scenes, director Keiichiro Shiraki and writer Junpei Yamaoka are back at the helm, promising to further elevate the world of Hojo’s iconic manga.
What to expect for City Hunter 2
While the first film acted as a compelling origin story for our iconic duo, the sequel is aiming for something even bigger.
“The previous film depicted the origin story between Ryo and Kaori,” said star Ryohei Suzuki. “In this sequel, we’re delivering what you might call the City Hunter — the most quintessential version of City Hunter yet.”
Original creator Tsukasa Hojo expressed his excitement after visiting the set, particularly praising Suzuki’s commitment to the character: “I was deeply impressed by the incredible passion of Ryohei Suzuki and the director. In particular, Ryohei’s physical transformation was remarkable.”
Director Keiichiro Shiraki admitted to feeling the weight of the legacy, noting that he and the team have been holding intense “daily meetings at a family restaurant somewhere in Tokyo” to ensure they capture the magic of the series for the Reiwa era.
Shinichi Takahashi, Director of Live Action Creative (Japan) at Netflix, highlighted the significance of the project: “Following the tremendous response to the previous film, we are truly delighted to bring you the first-ever sequel to a Netflix film from Japan.”
Takahashi added, “Cooler than ever, goofier than ever, and more emotional than ever—City Hunter 2 is on its way.”
With production currently underway, we expect to learn more about the plot and a release window in the coming months. Stay tuned to What’s on Netflix for all the latest updates on Ryo Saeba’s next big mission.
Logo for City Hunter 2
