Fans have reason to believe that Netflix will release a live-action series in 2024 that would serve as a remake of 2002. Spirited Away.
The live-action series Hidden by the Spirits is rumored to be released on Netflix
On social media (mainly Facebook), fans saw the poster of the live action movie Spirited Away the series is apparently in development for a Netflix debut in 2024.
The poster highlights a Japanese-style hut above a live-action version of the film’s lead human character, Chihiro “Sen” Ogino, as well as a blue-and-white dragon known as Haku.
In addition to the series’ English and Japanese titles, the poster teases a May 2024 Netflix release, though it doesn’t offer an exact release date.
This poster can be seen below:
Originally published in 2002 Spirited Away focuses on 10-year-old Chihiro and her parents when they stumble upon a seemingly abandoned amusement park that turns her parents into pigs. Dragon Haku then explains how the park is a resort for supernatural beings who need a break from the earthly realm and that he must work there to free himself and his parents.
Spirited Away remained the highest-grossing Japanese film of all time for 17 years, and currently stands at $357 million at the box office (per Box Office Mojo). However, the 2020s Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Movie: Mugen Train broke that record.
Unfortunately for Spirited Away fans, this poster is fake because there isn’t even a specific actor listed for Chihiro. The picture is also entirely developed by computers, possibly artificial intelligence, with no plans for a remake of the film or series.
Watching Spirited Away on stage
Meanwhile Spirited Away is not intended to be redeveloped into a live-action project, but the story will continue to be told in other locations.
This will be via a live-action adaptation of the Japanese film, which will hit theaters in 2024, starting at the UK’s London Coliseum, with tickets now on sale for the July-August shows. It will also be available to stream on Max on December 24, according to Playbill.
A picture of the production can be found below, and fans can also watch the trailer for the stage adaptation on YouTube:
No matter how popular Spirited Away has been since its debut over two decades ago, there’s no news or rumor teasing that it’ll be turned into a live-action remake anytime soon.
It is also highly unlikely that the film will be made into a live-action project again, as Studio Ghibli, the studio behind this film, has only made one live-action project since the studio was founded in 1985.
That project was a short film called Giant God Warrior appears in Tokyo and released in 2012, it uses a combination of live-action footage and CGI to bring the story to life.
As of now, Studio Ghibli has no official plans to return to live-action, as the studio has yet to approve a live-action adaptation of any of its animated films.
In February 2024 Godzilla Minus One director Takashi Yamazaki (via ComicBook ) admitted to asking about a possible live-action remake Nausicaa of the valley of the winddirected and written by Studio Ghibli founder Hayao Miyazaki
Although they have spoken often, Yamazaki made it clear “the answer has always been no” when it comes to adapting one of Miyazaki’s projects into live action.
With that in mind, live-action Spirited Away can almost certainly be taken off the table as an option until Miyazaki changes his mind.
Spirited Away streams on Max and can be purchased from several online stores.
