If there’s a character that just can’t be kept down, it has to be Eikichi Onizuka. The GTO manga and anime series is a favorite of mine for many years now and I’ve really enjoyed some of the live-action adaptations we’ve had of it over the years. We learned last month that the prequel manga series GTO: The Early Years is getting a live-action adaptation that will debut on February 28th, 2020. This will feature Kanichirō as Eikichi Onizuka while Daichi Kaneko stars as Ryuji Danma.
The official site has now updated with the first trailer below as well as some additional cast members with
Yurina Yanagi, Shiori Yoshida, Kasumi Yamaya, Misato Morita, Eita Okuno, Kū Ijima, Katsuya Takagi, Kazunori Mimura, Mizuki Maehara, Karin Ono, Yūki Takao, Yūtarō, Atomu Mizuishi, Kaito Yoshimura, and Keisuke Higashi. Yōko Minami, Kunihiko Ida, Shunsuke Daitō, Yoshinori Okada, Eisaku Yoshida, and New Japan Pro Wrestling wrestler Tōgi Makabe.
With Eiji Uchida as chief director, Yusaku Matsumoto and Nobuhiro Suzumura are the hands-on directors. Uchida is working on the scripts with three others as well.
The manga began in 1990 and ran for thirty-one volumes through 1996.
Original series concept: Eikichi Onizuka and Ryuji Danma are members of infamous biker duo, the Oni Baku. When not out riding around, they can be found in school, trying to pick up young women. This is the story of the young Onizuka, who would later become the greatest teacher in Japan, and his partner Ryuji in their quest to lose their virginity and reach maturity.
They are widely feared bosozoku, and are known for their tenacity and viciousness in a fight. However, this lifestyle does not exactly endear them to the opposite gender, so they decide to change their ways. However, this is easier said than done.
[Source: ANN]
