On October 21, the cast for the sequel to TBS Sunday theater’s “VIVANT” (July 2011 season), starring Masato Sakai (51), which is set to air in 2026, was announced. ■[Image] “A 22-year-old actress and a 21-year-old actress with acting talent” were replaced in the “VIVANT” sequel. –. The drama series “VIVANT” is an original drama set in the fictional Republic of Barca and Japan, and follows the exploits of Yusuke Nogi (Sakai), a member of the Self-Defense Forces’ shadowy intelligence organization “Separate Team,” and was written and directed by TBS’ Katsuo Fukuzawa, who also directed the hit drama “Naoki Hanzawa. The drama was a social phenomenon hit as a “thought-provoking drama” involving the viewers. The powerful visuals created by the long-term location shooting in Mongolia were also a topic of conversation. The final episode of the series is known to have created a “VIVANT” whirlwind in Japan, with a household rating of 19.6% (according to Video Research, Kanto region), an individual rating of 12.9%, and a core rating of 10.1% (individual viewer rating among viewers aged 13 to 49). The film is known to have created a “VIVANT whirlwind” throughout Japan, with a 10.1% viewer rating. There are rumors that a sequel to “VIVANT” will be aired in the July season of 2014, and there are also reports that the drama will be aired in two consecutive seasons, and even a movie will be released after the drama airs. Filming has already begun, and in late June a photo magazine caught them filming in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, and it is said that the drama will basically be set overseas, with locations in Azerbaijan and elsewhere. In addition to Sakai, who plays the lead role, a total of 24 people have been announced as continuing from the previous film, including Hiroshi Abe (61), Fumi Nikaido (31), and Momori Matsuzaka (37). The characters from the Republic of Barka, including Kazuya Ninomiya (42) of Arashi, who plays Nogi’s brother-in-law Nokol, and Balsalahagaba Batavold (39), who played the very popular character Detective Chinggis, will also continue to play in the film. On the other hand, it was also announced that two cast members from the previous film will be replaced. First, the role of Jameen, a young Balkan girl who was an important character in the previous film, has been changed from Mongolian actor Nandin Erdene Hongorzulla (12) to Japanese child actor Sae Honma (11). Nandin said, “Child actors often change their image as they grow up. Besides, Nandin is a local actor. Many viewers were disappointed, but also sympathetic to the situation, saying, “He’s a child actor from overseas,” or “He’ll grow up, so it can’t be helped. However, many fans of “VIVANT” are upset that the genius hacker Riho Ota was replaced by Sumire Hanaoka (21), who was replaced by Ai Iinuma (22).
