Netflix Steps Back Into ‘Parasyte’ Universe With ‘Tamiya’

Netflix has returned to the Parasyte manga universe that began in 2024 with Parasyte: The Grey. A new live-action series, Parasyte: Tamiya will star Shioli Kutsuna (Sanctuary, Deadpool 2) and will stream in 2027. Parasyte: The Grey creator Yeon Sang-ho is returning, having developed Tamiya and co-written the scripts with Ryu Yong-jae. Wowpoint, the Grey producer, is also back, with Kensaku Kakimoto (Glass Heart) and Kazuhiro Nakagawa (Double, Bullet Train Explosion) directing. Parasyte: The Grey spent four weeks at the top of Netflix’s Global Top 10 Non-English list in 2024, and reached number one in 34 countries. Tamiya will develop the story further. In the original manga, Ryoko Tamiya is a parasite who takes over the body of a high school teacher. Initially brutal and indiscriminate, she gradually learns from her human surroundings — and upon witnessing a parasite and human sharing a body, begins to wonder whether coexistence might offer her species a better chance of survival than conflict. Watch on Deadline Parasyte: Tamiya will tell Ryoko’s story from the inside: the original human, the parasite who inhabits her and the evolving creature caught between two worlds. Kutsuna plays the character, and said it was “the most challenging role I have ever played in my acting career.” “Ryoko Tamiya is a truly captivating villain in the original manga,” said Yeon. “Her struggles over the nature of her own existence are what elevate the original ‘Parasyte’ from a simple hero-based manga aimed at kids to something deeper. She’s a fascinating character, which drove me to want to tell the story of Parasyte through her perspective. “I wanted to convey her perpetual struggle over the need for parasites to coexist with humans and the issue of their survival, and how she suffers setbacks and learns over time. I think the anguish she experiences is the essence of Parasyte.” Parasyte is a major IP in Japan, having previously been adapted as a film series, an anime and a Korean drama. “This series, which is currently being edited, brings new things to the table compared to past entries in terms of story, cinematography, action, production, you name it,” said Yeon. “It firmly reflects the vision of both directors and is made with great respect for the original manga.”