A fantastical retelling of the legendary Black Samurai’s story is coming to Netflix as a six-episode anime.
Yasuke is being created, executive-produced, and directed by LeSean Thomas (Cannon Busters, Children of Ether, The Boondocks) for Netflix with Japanese studio MAPPA (Attack on Titan: The Final Season) in charge of the animation.
The plot, according to a press release received by Anime News Network:
In a war-torn feudal Japan filled with mechs and magic, the greatest ronin never known, Yasuke, struggles to maintain a peaceful existence after a past life of violence. But when a local village becomes the center of social upheaval between warring daimyo, Yasuke must take up his sword and transport a mysterious child who is the target of dark forces and bloodthirsty warlords.
The real Yasuke was a 16th century warrior, possibly originally from Ethiopia (nobody is absolutely certain), who came to Japan in the service of Italian missionaries. He then entered the service of feudal lord Oda Nobunaga who was intrigued by Yasuke’s unusually dark skin and impressed by his strength. Yasuke’s actual adventures contain no mechs or magic, just good old-fashioned swords and clan warfare.
Chadwick Boseman was set to portray Yasuke in a live-action film, but the project was cancelled after his death in 2020.
Yasuke is due to release on Netflix on 29 April, so expect a trailer some time soon.