Junji Ito has multiple live-action adaptations in progress: a live-action omnibus series premiering on TV Tokyo in July 2026 with an international streaming deal on HBO Max, and a multinational co-production film of The Long Hair in the Attic in development. A novelization of Uzumaki has concluded, and a new crossover figure with Sanrio was prototyped.
The most active development for Junji Ito's work is the live-action omnibus series Strange: Junji Ito's Tales for Sleepless Nights, which premieres on TV Tokyo on July 3, 2026. The series adapts 13 of Ito's manga stories and airs on the Drama 24 block. The cast includes Nijirō Murakami, Kanata Hosoda, and Yōko Maki. IVE performs the opening theme, and South Korean act 10CM performs the ending theme. Anime Expo 2026 screened the first two episodes, including a world premiere of the second episode. Shortly before the premiere, the staff announced a last-minute episode order rearrangement: the episode "Lovesickness" (Part 1) will now air first, while "The Mansion of Phantom Pain" was postponed with no new airdate. HBO Max will stream the series internationally this fall.
Another live-action project is a film adaptation of Ito's 1988 one-shot manga The Long Hair in the Attic. Toei, Thai studio M Studio, and South Korean Showbox are co-producing the film, marking the first multinational co-production for a Junji Ito property. Thai director Sitisiri Mongkolsiri will direct. Development is set to finish this year, with filming planned for 2027.
In print, Masaru Satō's novelization of Ito's Uzumaki ended its seven-year serialization in the July issue of Shogakukan's Big Comic Original Zōkan magazine on June 12, 2026. The compiled novel will ship later. In merchandise, a painted prototype of a new Junji Ito figure featuring Gyaru Tomie with Hello Kitty accessories appeared at Good Smile Fest 2026, continuing the Sanrio crossover. No release date has been announced.
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HBO Max will stream the live-action omnibus series Strange: Junji Ito's Tales for Sleepless Nights internationally this fall. The series, based on 13 manga stories by Junji Ito, premiered in Japan on July 3. Anime Expo screened the first two episodes on Friday. The cast includes Nijirō Murakami, Kanata Hosoda, and others. IVE performs the opening theme.
The staff for the live-action omnibus series Strange: Junji Ito's Tales for Sleepless Nights announced on Sunday that they are rearranging the episode order. The episode "Lovesickness" (Part 1) will now premiere as the first episode, while the previously planned first episode, "The Mansion of Phantom Pain," has been postponed with no new airdate announced. The series premieres on TV Tokyo on July 3.
The July issue of Shogakukan's Big Comic Original Zōkan magazine published the final chapter of Masaru Satō's novelization of Junji Ito's Uzumaki horror manga on June 12. The compiled novel will ship later. Satō launched the novelization in February 2019.
TV Tokyo unveiled the teaser, key visual, and details for its live-action Junji Ito omnibus series, which adapts 13 of his manga stories. The series premieres July 3 on TV Tokyo, with South Korean act 10CM performing the ending theme. Anime Expo 2026 will screen the first two episodes, including a world premiere of the second episode.
A painted prototype of a new Junji Ito figure featuring Gyaru Tomie with Hello Kitty accessories appeared at Good Smile Fest 2026. The figure is part of the ongoing Sanrio characters x Junji Ito crossover. Tomie wears Hello Kitty-themed items including a red bow, socks, phone charm, and bag stickers. The figure uses a greyscale paint approach similar to the Uzumaki Kirie Nendoroid. No release date has been announced, but pre-orders are expected soon.
TV Tokyo revealed the cast for Strange -Junji Ito's Strange Stories for Sleepless Nights-, a live-action omnibus series adapting 13 Junji Ito manga stories. The series premieres July 3 on TV Tokyo's Drama 24 block. The cast includes Nijirō Murakami, Kanata Hosoda, Yōko Maki, and others. IVE performs the opening theme.
Toei, Thai studio M Studio, and South Korean Showbox are co-producing a live-action film of Junji Ito's 1988 one-shot manga The Long Hair in the Attic. Thai director Sitisiri Mongkolsiri will direct. Development is set to finish this year, with filming planned for 2027.