"BLACK BUTLER" From Hell Conquers SM Cinemas this July 23!

Japanese superstars Hiro Mizushima and Ayame Gouriki star as the ideal master-servant duo in "Black Butler" directed by Kentaro Otani and Keiichi Sato based on the phenomenal manga series of the same title ("Kuroshitsuji") illustrated and written by Yana Toboso.

                 The live-action movie "Black Butler" stars Hiro Mizushima in the titular role, Sebastian, the butler from hell.   Sebastian possesses a wealth of knowledge, unbelievable skills, perfect looks and grace, he is a butler without flaws.  If one were to find any negative thins about him, it would be his troubling personality.

                Both the manga and anime are set in Victorian Era London and tells the story of 12-year old, Earl Ciel Phantomhive, Queen Victoria's faithful servant and the most powerful boy in England, but unknown to many , he bears the scars of unspeakable suffering who witnessed his parents murdered.  Seeking vengeance, Ciel summons the services of Sebastian and thus becomes the Young Master who carries the devil's mark. 

                In the movie adaptation, "Black Butler" is set in the year 2020, this is a 130-years leap after the events of the manga and anime. The movie brings in a brand new adventure of Sebastian returning to assist a descendant of the Phantomhive family.  Sebastian's new master is Kiyoharu,the young leader of the Genpo Group, whose real name is Shiori because she disguised herself as a man to protect her status as heir to their family's estate.  Bound together by an unbreakable master-servant loyalty, Shiori traded her sould for Sebastian's service.  Both of them carry out secret missions from the Queen.  When they are assigned to look into an ongoing serial murder case, Sebastian soon discovers a world that humans should never enter.

                "Black Butler" opens this July 23 exclusive in SM Cinemas to be distributed by Silverline Inc. 

YANA TOBOSO’S Bestselling MANGA Series "BLACK BUTLER" Adapted to Screen

The original comic series “Black Butler” that female Japanese artist Yana Toboso illustrated and wrote had been serialized in the monthly G-Fantasy, published by Square Enix.  The manga series had been adapted to a movie with the same title, “Black Butler,” directed by Kentaro Otani (“Nana” series) and Keiichi Sato (“Asura”) with a screenplay by Tsutomo  Kuroiwa, stars Mizushima in the titular role of the Black Butler who goes by the name Sebastian.

While the original manga is set in 19th century England, this new film is set more than 130 years later in 2020, in an Asian city where Western and Asian cultures freely intermingle. At the time when the movie is set, only males can take the reins of the Phantomhive family, a young woman named Shiori dons male clothes and took on the name Kiyoharu to lead the massive Phantom Corporation.

Sebastian is a demonic butler. Perfect at the preparation and serving of exquisite meals and in providing service and protection.  He has an extensive knowledge of all fields.  Sebastian is bound by a secret contract to serve his master, Kiyoharu (Goriki), and in return for supporting his master’s mission, Sebastian will receive Kiyoharu’s soul at the end of the bargain. 

Mizushima plays Sebastian to the hilt, as the perfect but arrogant butler with elegant movement and stylish manners.  As the movie gets into the darker side. Mummified dead bodies of various dignitaries from around the world are being discovered, a mysterious tarot card left beside each of them at the scene.  Kiyoharu, a young head of the Genpo noble family sees the world as it heads into chaos.  He also serves as a secret watchdog for the Queen, a service that his family has provided for generations.  The Queen orders Kiyoharu to solve the mummification incidents.  As he starts to investigate, he hires the services of his perfect butler, Sebastian, who is actually a demon. Kiyoharu has been hiding his true identity since his parents’ tragic death years earlier.

                “Black Butler” will open exclusive in SM Cinemas nationwide on July 23 and will be distributed by Silverline Inc.

HIRO MIZUSHIMA En Vogue and in Time for Action in “BLACK BUTLER”

 Following a string of adaptation to theatre, magazines and  video games, the widely  read manga series “Black Butler” written and illustrated by Yana Toboso has also been adapted to a movie starring Hiro Mizushima and Ayame Gouriki.   

The movie “Black Butler” revolves around a “flawless demon butler” character named Sebastian Michealis who personifies grace, knowledge, and physical perfection as he investigates dark and mysterious incidents.  Eventually, he was summoned by an orphaned aristocrat to exact revenge at the price of her soul. 

"Black Butler" story was originally set in the 19th century, in the ruling era of Queen Victoria but the film is set in the year 2020 to allow for a more reasonable mingling of Asian-European cultures.   In the movie, Shiori Genpo (Ayame Gouriki) runs the large corporation Funtom. Shiori is also a descendant of the prestigious noble family, Phantomhive of England. In order to hunt down the murderers of her parents, the orphaned aristocrat summons a demonic butler (Hiro Mizushima) to aid her. Sebastian's job is to protect Ciel until her revenge is fulfilled, then he will consume her spirit.

Directors Kentaro Otani and Keiichi Satou assures fans that even though the movie’s setting is unlike the original, they took very careful note not to disappoint fans of the original.  Hiroyasu Koizumi, who is in charge of the art concept says that the idea for the setting is that it is not limited to any nationality or age.  Mizushima, who plays the titular role shed more than an ample amount of weight for the role. A Japanese actor, producer, writer and creative director, Mizushima also took part in the movie’s post production process.      

“Black Butler” will open July 23 exclusive in SM cinemas nationwide from Axinite Digicinema.