Netflix’s Ju-On: Origins Photos Released Ahead of July Debut

June 18, 2020

Netflix has released new photos from their upcoming series adaptation of Ju-On: Origins, which is the latest installment to the iconic Japanese horror franchise. The images, which you can check out in the gallery below (via Bloody Disgusting), highlight the characters as they get a chance to explore the infamous cursed house. The series will be available for streaming on Friday, July 3!

The series, which is an international co-production between NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan and Netflix, will focus on paranormal investigator Odajima and television star Haruka Honjo, with the latter finding herself haunted by the disturbing sounds of footfall in her apartment in the middle of the night. They both find themselves drawn to the iconic cursed house, which Odajima begins to investigate.

The cast for the series includes Yoshiyoshi Arakawa as Odajima and Yuina Kuroshima as Haruka, as well as Ririka, Kōki Osamura, Mai Takahashi, Kai Inowaki, Ryūshin Tei, Yuya Matsuura, Kaho Tsuchimura, Tokio Emoto, Nobuko Sendō and Kana Kurashina. The small screen iteration is being directed by Shō Miyake, with scripts by Yō Takahashi and Takashige Ichise.

The franchise initially began in 1998 with the Japanese short film Katasumi and 4444444444 and spawned a film series that included the original four Japanese installments, The Curse, The Curse 2, The Grudge and The Grudge 2. After seeing the success these films were garnering overseas and the success of the American version of The Ring, Sony Pictures greenlit a remake of The Grudge with original writer/director Takashi Shimizu returning to direct a script from Stephen Susco and Sarah Michelle Gellar set to star. Though not a critical hit, 2004’s The Grudge was a box office smash and spawned two sequels, as well as this year’s reboot sidequel, which was a modest financial success.