The loudest sign that Netflix is serious about turning certain licensed-IP films into ongoing franchises is when a one-and-done adaptation gets a follow-up this quickly, especially one that splits opinions. The original movie didn’t coast on niche fandom either: it debuted at #1 on Netflix’s Global Top 10 (Non-English Films) in the week of April 22–28, 2024, and cracked the Top 10 in 32 countries/regions, a global footprint that basically dares Netflix to build a sequel while the audience memory is still warm. The film also happens to be a live-action adaptation of a popular anime and manga series, which Netflix seems much more comfortable with following the runaway success of its One Piece remake.
The polarizing part is real on paper. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film sits at 59% critics versus 80% audience, which is classic critics argue, viewers rewatch, territory, usually because the tone is unapologetically broad and the lead is intentionally goofy/old-school in a way that either charms you instantly or bounces you off. That split matters because Netflix tends to greenlight sequels when a title travels internationally and has strong audience satisfaction, even if reviews are mixed.
Now it’s official: Netflix has confirmed City Hunter 2, with Ryohei Suzuki back as Ryo Saeba alongside Misato Morita (Kaori) and Fumino Kimura (Saeko). Keiichiro Shiraki is helming, and Jumpei Yamaoka is writing, and Netflix is targeting a worldwide premiere in 2027 while framing it as a bigger, “more quintessential” swing rather than just repeating the origin-story beats.
‘City Hunter’ Has Had Several Adaptations Over the Years
City Hunter is one of those rare anime/manga properties that’s been rebooted, sequelled, and re-localized across multiple countries and formats. It started as Tsukasa Hojo’s manga during the mid-’80s, then became a long-running Japanese anime TV franchise with multiple films and specials. In the live-action world, it’s bounced from Hong Kong cinema to modern streaming: Jackie Chan headlined a loose 1993 Hong Kong film take, France produced its own big-screen version (2019’s Nicky Larson et le Parfum de Cupidon), and Netflix later launched a Japanese live-action film adaptation (released in 2024), which is now getting a sequel.
Animation-wise, it also kept evolving: City Hunter: Shinjuku Private Eyes (2019) revived the classic voice cast for a theatrical sequel-style entry, followed by City Hunter: Angel Dust in 2023.
City Hunter 2 is set to premiere worldwide in 2027. The exact release date has not yet been revealed.
via Collider