Cult Classic Japanese Video Game Is Officially Getting A Live-Action Movie Adaptation

Published Sep 18, 2026, 11:02 PM EDT

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Another live-action video game adaptation is officially on its way.

A live-action feature film based on the cult classic Japanese video game, Lollipop Chainsaw, is officially in development, bringing the franchise to the big screen. The movie is part of a broader expansion of the property, which also includes a new video game and an animated series. The creators are planning to use these projects to help develop the franchise across more mediums and gain a larger global presence.

According to Deadline, the movie will serve as a prequel to the original game and is being developed as an R-rated action comedy. The story centers on Juliet Starling, a cheerleader at San Romero High School who is from a family of zombie hunters. After her school gets attacked by zombies, Juliet battles the undead while attempting to protect her friends and family. Her boyfriend, Nick, also gets caught up in the mess.

The live-action movie was originally announced at the Tokyo Game Show and is being developed under license from Dragami Games. The project will be overseen by producers and executives from several countries. The team consists of Nada Holdings chairman Joe Teng, former ZDF Studios drama executive Robert Franke, Ambitious Entertainment's Kirk Shaw, Non Stop TV's Patricio Rabuffetti, and Throne Inc. CEO Takafumi Yuki.

Lollipop Chainsaw was originally a 2012 video game that garnered a dedicated following throughout the years. Although it was considered a cult classic, the franchise has skyrocketed in popularity, eventually selling over 1.5 million copies. The game returned in September 2024 with Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP, a remastered version featuring updated visuals and gameplay improvements.

Dragami Games president Shohei Sato expressed his enthusiasm about expanding the franchise into live action, describing the movie as another significant step for the property. He also highlighted the involvement of the international team behind the adaptation, explaining that the creative teams understand all the defining traits of the Lollipop Chainsaw brand while also coming up with new ideas for the upcoming film.

Franke also chimed in and said that they plan to preserve the spirit of Lollipop Chainsaw without making the movie fully dependent on the games. He further elaborated, stating that the adaptation will be able to stand on its own and appeal to audiences who are unfamiliar with the franchise.

There is no official release date for the live-action adaptation of Lollipop Chainsaw at the time of this article's publication.

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