Dragami Games has officially announced a live-action feature film adaptation of the cult classic video game Lollipop Chainsaw. Revealed during a stage event at the Tokyo Game Show on September 19, 2026, the project marks a significant expansion for the franchise, which is also seeing a new game sequel and an anime series in development.
The upcoming film is being developed as an R-rated action comedy and will serve as a prequel to the original 2012 game. The narrative is expected to focus on protagonist Juliet Starling during the initial zombie outbreak at San Romero High School. Dragami Games President Shohei Sato described the cinematic move as a “major step” for the brand as it transitions into a multi-media property.
An international production coalition has been assembled to bring the cheerleader-led zombie hunter to the big screen. The team includes:
- Joe Teng (Nada Holdings)
- Robert Franke (Orange Chariot)
- Takafumi Yuki (Throne Inc.)
- Kirk Shaw (Ambitious Entertainment)
- Patricio Rabuffetti (Non Stop TV)
While the production team is set, a director and lead cast members have not yet been announced. Notably, original game creators Suda51 and filmmaker James Gunn, who collaborated on the writing and design of the first game, have not been confirmed as participants in the new film or current game projects.
A Broader Franchise Revival
The movie announcement was paired with the reveal of Lollipop Chainsaw 2: Back2Back, a direct video game sequel currently in development for PlayStation 5. According to IGN, the sequel is being directed by Hajime Tabata, best known for his work directing Final Fantasy XV. The game has a targeted release window of 2027.
This surge in activity follows the release of Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP, a remaster of the original title. The live-action film and the Back2Back game sequel are being developed alongside an anime adaptation that was first teased in mid-2025, suggesting a coordinated effort to modernize the IP for a new audience.
The decision to position the live-action film as a prequel allows the production to explore Juliet Starling’s family lineage of zombie hunters and the immediate events leading up to the San Romero outbreak without strictly retreading the plot of the original game. According to Anime News Network, the project is entirely separate from the previously announced anime series, confirming that fans will have three distinct ways to experience the franchise’s return over the next few years.
