Masaki Suda to direct and star in ‘Death Valley ’95’ film adaptation

Actor Masaki Suda has announced his directorial debut with the film adaptation of Shinji Aoyama’s novel, ‘Death Valley ’95’. Suda will co-direct the project alongside Kento Yamada and will also star in the lead role. The film aims for a 2027 release.

The project carries significant emotional weight for Suda, who described the late director Aoyama as a person who “changed my life.” Aoyama had reportedly expressed a strong desire to see this specific novel adapted with Suda in the starring role before his passing in 2022. The production involves a collaborative team including screenwriter Sora Hokimoto and producer Masaki Kai, with distribution handled by Twin Engine and Yoake.

While the announcement of ‘Death Valley ’95’ was met with support from fans, it has occurred alongside controversial reports regarding a separate potential film project. Some media reports have suggested Suda may portray Tetsuya Yamagami in a film about the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a claim that has sparked significant debate and criticism on social media.