Rurouni Kenshin movie sequel set to have an Asian Premiere in Manila this August

Warner Bros. Pictures (Philippines), distributor of the sequels of the highly-popular live-action movie adaptation of Rurouni Kenshin  has announced on Friday that the first sequel, Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno, will have its Asian premiere in Manila this August.

The movie distributor also confirms that director Keishi Otomo and lead actors Takeru Satoh (who played the lead character Kenshin Himura), Emi Takei (Kaoru Kamiya) and Munetaka Aoki (Sanosuke Sagara) will attend the Red-carpet premiere, as well as the Press conference the next day.

According to the press release, the announcement was made by both by William Ireton, President and Representative Director of Warner Entertainment Japan Inc., and Francis Soliven, General Manager of Warner Bros. Philippines.

The invitational red-carpet premiere is set to happen on Wednesday, August 06, in the evening at the SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City. The press conference, on the other hand, will happen on Thursday, August 07, at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City, which will be open to the public.

“We are thrilled to bring director Keishi Otomo and castmembers Takeru Satoh, Emi Takei and Munetaka Aoki to Manila so they can personally thank and engage with the loyal fans of Rurouni Kenshin.” says Ireton.

He also adds that the country has been an important market, as the first movie became a box office success at the end of 2012.

In addition, Soliven says, “Moviegoers in the Philippines have helped create a wave of anticipation and excitement for the `Rurouni Kenshin’ sequels and the upcoming talent visit is a much welcome recognition of the fans’ ardent support.”

The first live-action movie adaptation of Rurouni Kenshin premiered in Japanese theatres on August 05, 2012, and it was distributed in the Philippines through independent movie distributor Pioneer Films, which was premiered exclusively on SM Cinema branches on December 05, 2012.

According to the website Box Office Mojo, it went on to earn more than PhP26 million in the local box office for two weeks, thus becoming the highest-grossing Japanese non-horror film in the Philippines.

The first sequel, entitled “Kyoto Inferno”, is set to be screened in Japan on August 01, while the second sequel, entitled “The Legend Ends”, is set to be screened on September 13.

In the Philippines, the sequels are distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures Philippines, and the first sequel is set to be screened on all cinemas on Wednesday, August 20, while the second sequel is set to be screened on Wednesday, September 24.