Sung Kang's Unexpected Role in Hotly Anticipated Initial D Live-Action Remake Will Leave Fans Breathless

After the release of the sequel anime "MF Ghost," Initial D, the popular Japanese street racing manga series, is expanding its franchise with a live-action movie directed by Sung Kang, known for his role in the "Fast & Furious" franchise. This upcoming film will be the second live-action adaptation of Initial D, following the first one that was released in 2005 exclusively for Asian markets. Authored and illustrated by Shuichi Shigeno, the manga series was originally serialized from 1995 to 2013 in Kodansha's Weekly Young Magazine, a seinen manga magazine. With a total of 48 tankōbon volumes, the manga series has achieved significant success, boasting over 55 million copies in circulation.

Fast & Furious actor set to direct new Initial D live-action movie

During a recent interview with South China Morning Post, Fast & Furious actor Sung Kang confirmed that he was set to direct a live-action adaptation of the Initial D series.

Sung Kang said:

A thrilling homage to classic movies like Rocky and Karate Kid, this entertaining and high-budget film beautifully captures my passion for cars. Moreover, during his podcast, the actor-turned-director excitedly disclosed his successful contact with none other than Akira Nakai from RWB. Together, they will bring to life the iconic AE86 Corolla, which will prominently appear in the movie.

What is Initial D about?

The protagonist of the story, Takumi Fujiwara, has little interest in the world of cars and racing. These activities serve as constant reminders of his monotonous task of delivering tofu for his father. Every day, Takumi reluctantly drives his old Toyota AE86 along the challenging mountain roads of Akina, becoming a master of its terrain. Despite sounding impressive, this experience has become a mundane routine forced upon him.

In an unexpected turn of events, the infamous street racing team known as Akagi Red Suns suddenly arrives in the town of Akina, where they seek to challenge the local street racers, the Akina Speed Stars. To their astonishment, Keisuke Takahashi, the skilled number two racer of the Red Suns, is overtaken by an old Toyota AE86 while journeying through the mountain pass. Curiously, this leads the Speed Stars to trace the car back to its rightful owner, Takumi's father, Bunta.

Afterwards, a sequence of occurrences led Bunta to request his son Takumi to compete on behalf of the Akina Speed Stars and triumph over the Akagi Red Suns. As a result of his triumphant triumph over the Red Suns, Takumi Fujiwara’s fascination in the realm of racing began to grow."