Coming off a collaboration onHuman Vapor, Netflix once again teams up with creator Yeon Sang-ho to expand the Parasyte universe with a new live-action series,Parasyte: TAMIYA, releasing in 2027.
The series stars Shioli Kutsuna and reunites many of the key creatives behindParasyte: The Grey.
This new series tells the story of Ryoko Tamiya, a very levelheaded and “human” parasite who begins to question how, or if, parasites and humans can coexist. Seen through Tamiya’s eyes, the world of Parasyte becomes a lens on survival, identity and what it really means to be human.
The original manga “Parasyte” (published by Kodansha) is a timeless masterpiece that ran from 1988 to 1995 and has been loved for more than 30 years, selling around 25 million copies across more than 20 countries and regions.
“Parasyte” enthralled fans with its thrilling plot twists, dark setting and richly imaginative story infused with philosophical themes, and anime and film adaptations have carried its popularity across generations. In 2024, Parasyte:The Greyby Yeon Sang-ho (Colony, The Ugly, Hellbound), told a new story set in modern-day Korea based on the original manga, which is streaming globally on Netflix. It remained on the Global Top 10 Non-English Shows list for four weeks and ranked #1 in 34 countries, sparking a global Parasyte obsession.
Parasyte: TAMIYAis the next evolution in that universe. In the original manga, Ryoko Tamiya is a parasite who takes over the body of a high school teacher and becomes an antagonist for Shinichi Izumi. Initially a brutal parasite that attacks humans indiscriminately, Tamiya learns a great deal about humanity through her job as a teacher. Upon seeing Shinichi and Migi sharing a body, she begins to think that coexistence with humanity will give her species the best chance at survival.
The team behindHuman VaporandParasyte: The Greyreturns for this series. Yeon Sang-ho developedParasyte: TAMIYAand wrote the script in collaboration with Ryu Yong-jae. WOWPOINT, which was the production company behind both aforementioned titles, was involved with development and production. Kensaku Kakimoto (Glass Heart) and Kazuhiro Nakagawa (Double, Bullet Train Explosion) direct the series. Yeon Sang-ho’s penchant for exposing the nature of people when placed in extreme situations, Kakimoto’s talent for music and visual storytelling and Nakagawa’s dynamic action and VFX production combine to create a new Parasyte story with significant promise.
Shioli Kutsuna (Sanctuary, Deadpool 2, Gundam) plays Ryoko Tamiya in three distinct ways: the original human, the supposedly violent parasite, and the parasite who struggles to coexist with humanity. “She did a wonderful job of portraying the process of a non-human creature coming to understand both humanity and her own existence,” Yeon Sang-ho said in praise of her acting.
Parasyte: TAMIYAstreams worldwide in 2027, only on Netflix.
Q&A with Yeon Sang-ho (Developed & Written by)
Q: In these modern times, what kind of world did you want to depict through Tamiya’s perspective?
A: Ryoko Tamiya is a truly captivating villain in the original manga. Her struggles over the nature of her own existence are what elevate the original “Parasyte” from a simple hero-based manga aimed at kids to something deeper. She’s a fascinating character, which drove me to want to tell the story of “Parasyte” through her perspective. I wanted to convey her perpetual struggle over the need for parasites to coexist with humans and the issue of their survival, and how she suffers setbacks and learns over time. I think the anguish she experiences is the essence of “Parasyte.”
Q: Why did you choose Shioli Kutsuna to play the main character?
A: In the manga, Ryoko Tamiya is a teacher in her twenties. Not only has Kutsuna played a wide variety of roles in both Japan and overseas, but she has also gained a deep understanding of the science fiction genre from American films and television series. I was very impressed with her version of Ryoko Tamiya. In this series, she plays three distinct versions of Ryoko Tamiya: the original human, the parasite after it takes over, and the parasite once it starts struggling with the issue of how to interact with humanity. I’m sure that was a big challenge for Kutsuna as an actor. I think she did a wonderful job of portraying the process of a non-human creature coming to understand both humanity and its own existence.
Q: Why did you choose Kensaku Kakimoto and Kazuhiro Nakagawa as the directors? What did you expect from them, and what were your impressions of them during filming?
A: Kensaku Kakimoto is a director with an exceptional talent for visual storytelling and with good taste in music. I was very excited to see his take on Parasyte, which could be considered the pinnacle of the body snatcher genre. Parasyte: Tamiya ended up exceeding my expectations. As for Kazuhiro Nakagawa, I noticed he had participated as a co-writer or director on many projects. He strikes me as a director who is skilled at getting to the heart of a story. I’m always amazed by the composition and production of each shot. I chose these two directors precisely because they have such different styles, and I had high hopes for a collaboration between them.
Q: I believe the series is in the editing phase now that filming is complete. How do you feel about it? Please share a message for the fans who are awaiting its release.
A: “Parasyte” is a legendary manga that has been adapted as a film series, an anime and a Korean drama. I am deeply honored to have been involved with this timeless masterpiece twice. This series, which is currently being edited, brings new things to the table compared to past entries in terms of story, cinematography, action, production, you name it. It firmly reflects the vision of both directors and is made with great respect for the original manga. I hope fans are excited to see it.
Shioli KutsunaRyoko Tamiya is the most challenging role I have ever played in my acting career. During the six months I spent living as Tamiya, I experienced many emotions I had never encountered before. The role taught me a great deal and allowed me to grow not only as a person but also as an actor. Every day on set brought new discoveries and possibilities. As I portrayed Tamiya, I found myself constantly reflecting on the profound themes of the original manga, making the experience an incredibly rewarding one as an actor. This series was brought to life through the dedication of the entire cast and crew, who supported one another through every challenge along the way. It is a project that means a great deal to all of us, and I can’t wait for audiences to experience it.
Yoshihiro Sato (Netflix)”What makes a human?” “Can we coexist with beings that are different from us?” — These questions posed by “Parasyte” more than 30 years ago feel much more pressing for our modern society that has placed non-sentient AI at all of our fingertips.
This series depicts the untold story of Ryoko Tamiya. Despite being a parasite who preyed upon and possessed the body of the human with the same name, the experience of raising a human baby and developing a bond with it inspires her to search for a way to coexist with humanity. Can one’s innate nature be reshaped by experience? Tamiya’s conflict and life journey are explored for the first time in this original story that stays true to the essence of the manga.
Our purpose in making this series was to take the universal questions posed by the original manga 30 years ago and bring them into the modern spotlight. I hope everyone is excited to see yet another collaboration between Netflix and Yeon Sang-ho featuring the work of many excellent Japanese creators and actors.
Netflix SeriesParasyte: TAMIYAStarring: Shioli Kutsuna
Developed by: Yeon Sang-ho
Director: Kensaku Kakimoto, Kazuhiro Nakagawa
Screenplay: Yeon Sang-ho, Ryu Yong-jae
Executive Producer: Yoomin Hailey Yang
Developed & Produced by : WOWPOINT
Production Company: EPISCOPE, INC.
Presented by：Netflix
Based on the manga “KISEIJYU” by Hitoshi Iwaaki published by Kodansha
Series page:https://www.netflix.com/parasytetamiyaHashtag: #ParasyteTamiya #Netflix
