HBO Max Brings Junji Ito's 'Tales for Sleepless Nights' to US After NYCC Premiere of 'Face Thief'
The live-action horror anthology 'Strange: Junji Ito's Tales for Sleepless Nights' has debuted on HBO Max for audiences in the US following its 12-episode airing on TV Tokyo last summer. This series transforms Junji Ito's eerie short stories into half-hour episodes. During the New York Comic Con, fans gathered for the US premiere of 'Face Thief,' inspired by Ito's 1987 tale 'The Face Burglar.' The plot centers on new student Machida (Nanami Yamazaki) and the shape-shifting character Kamei (Anna Hoshino). Director Yûta Shimotsu described the episode as a commentary on Japanese conformity, revealing that he modified the ending and is keen on adapting 'Uzumaki.' The initial two episodes, 'Lovesickness (Part 1 of 3)' and 'The Bully,' are now streaming on HBO Max.
Key facts
- The live-action anthology 'Strange: Junji Ito's Tales for Sleepless Nights' premiered its 12-episode first season on TV Tokyo in summer 2023.
- HBO Max is now streaming the series in the US, with the first two episodes 'Lovesickness (Part 1 of 3)' and 'The Bully' available.
- The episode 'Face Thief' had its US premiere at New York Comic Con; it is based on Junji Ito's 1987 story 'The Face Burglar.'
- Director Yûta Shimotsu changed the ending of 'Face Thief' to differentiate his adaptation from the original manga.
- Junji Ito appeared in a video message at NYCC, describing 'Face Burglar' as inspired by chameleon camouflage and not a ghost story.
- Ito's original story was published in Monthly Halloween in 1987, the same year his debut 'Tomie' appeared.
- Shimotsu expressed interest in adapting Ito's 'Uzumaki' next and mentioned he is developing a Hollywood project.
- The series title was inspired by Nemuki, an offshoot of Monthly Halloween whose name translates to 'Strange Stories of Sleepless Nights.'
Entities
Artists
- Junji Ito
- Yûta Shimotsu
- Nanami Yamazaki
- Anna Hoshino
Institutions
- HBO Max
- TV Tokyo
- Netflix
- Adult Swim
- New York Comic Con
- Monthly Halloween
- Nemuki
- Shudder
Locations
- New York
- United States
- Japan
- Tokyo