It’s been announced that Fuji TV’s popular drama, “Ninkyo Helper“, will get a movie adaptation!

“Ninkyo Helper” revolves around a Yakuza member named ‘Tsubasa Hikoichi’ (SMAP’s Kusanagi Tsuyoshi), who suddenly gets ordered by his boss to work as a caretaker in a senior citizens’ home. The drama grabbed viewers’ attention immediately, since Kusanagi, who’s known to have a “good person character”, was cast as a cruel Yakuza. In the Kanto region, it pulled an average rating of 15%, with the highest being 17.8%; its special episode, which aired in January 2011, also pulled an average rating of 12.5%.

Though the story was technically completed with the special episode, fans sent in a flood of requests for a sequel. Therefore, it was decided that the drama would return as a movie. The movie will pick up from the end of the special episode with many new action scenes.

Director Nishitani Hiroshi will return to the set for the film adaptation, but most of the original cast members will be replaced. (Update: Kuroki Meisa will make an appearance in the move) Kuroki Meisa and Kusangi will be the only cast members retained. Fans can also look forward to new roles picked up by Sakai Masaaki, Kagawa Teruyuki, Yasuda Narumi, Kaho, and Kazama Shunsuke.

The movie version of “Ninkyo Helper” will be released in November.

Source: Sanspo (1 + 2)

Image: “Ninkyo Helper” official site (Fuji TV)

Thanks to Maddy for the tip!