The Walking Dead’s Norman Reedus Reveals He’s a Chainsaw Man Fan

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The popularity of the series has exploded in the last year, mainly because of the huge success of its first film, Reze Arc. This success has turned several well-known celebrities into fans, including a recent Olympic figure skater. Now, two more celebrities have shared that they’re also fans of the anime.

Norman Reedus, the actor famous for his role as Daryl Dixon in The Walking Dead, recently shared his anime preferences at a Hong Kong comic con. He explained that his friend, video game creator Hideo Kojima (Metal Gear Solid), introduced him to Chainsaw Man, and he’s now a devoted fan. Unsurprisingly, fans of Chainsaw Man are incredibly excited about this news.

Because Norman Reedus is known for battling zombies in The Walking Dead, similar to Denji in Chainsaw Man, fans are already wondering how the actor could appear in a live-action version of the anime—and how Denji himself might be portrayed in live-action.

The Walking Dead’s Norman Reedus and Metal Gear Solid’s Hideo Kojima Are Both Confirmed Chainsaw Man Fans

I was totally stoked to hear Norman Reedus talking about anime at Hong Kong Comic Con! GQ asked him if he’s a fan, and he shared that Hideo Kojima actually turned him onto Chainsaw Man. Apparently, Kojima told him it was his favorite, and Norman was so intrigued he went searching all over Tokyo for the manga! He’s got a production company and was hoping to find something awesome to adapt, which is really cool.

Reedus shared that being familiar with the anime Chainsaw Man earned him respect, saying, “I got a lot of street cred for knowing it.” He recently noticed the show on an airplane during a trip to Japan and thought that was a neat experience.

Norman Reedus was asked what anime ability he’d choose, and it reminded him of a character from Chainsaw Man. He described a character – likely the Bomb Devil Hybrid from the Reze Arc – as “the coolest one,” someone who could destroy things with their mind. Reedus jokingly admitted he’s “very destructive,” implying that’s why he’d pick that power.

Okay, so Norman Reedus mentioned Chainsaw Man, and the fandom has completely exploded! Everyone’s already buzzing and trying to figure out which character he could possibly play in a live-action adaptation – it’s wild to see all the theories!

So far, it looks like Norman Reedus is the strongest choice. He’s already demonstrated his ability to convincingly play tough, experienced fighters in previous roles.

With Hideo Kojima’s name attached, people are already speculating about how a Chainsaw Man video game could be made.

Hideo Kojima and Norman Reedus became close friends while collaborating on the popular video game Death Stranding, where Reedus portrays the central character, Sam Porter Bridges. Death Stranding is known for its cinematic quality and incredibly realistic graphics, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in video games.

Although Hideo Kojima and Norman Reedus haven’t publicly discussed a Chainsaw Man game or TV show, it’s still possible they’re involved in a project.

Chainsaw Man Already Has Plenty of Experience With Live Action Adaptations

Recently, the popular anime Chainsaw Man has partnered with several mobile games, letting players control characters from the series. These collaborations include games like Goddess of Victory: NIKKE, Puzzle & Dragons, and Bloodline: The Last Royal Vampire, among others.

Rumors and unofficial reports have circulated suggesting characters from Chainsaw Man might appear in Fortnite, but this hasn’t been officially announced yet.

While an animated adaptation is highly anticipated, there are already two live-action versions of Chainsaw Man available as stage plays. The first, based on Season 1 of the manga, debuted in 2023. A second stage play was recently announced with a promising teaser trailer. Those interested can currently watch the first adaptation streaming on Crunchyroll.

Interestingly, the anime Chainsaw Man has experimented with live-action footage before. After the Reze Arc was released, character designer Kazutaka Sugiyama shared that MAPPA had actually filmed a short live-action clip to help promote the anime.

The video clip wasn’t released, as the film’s marketing team opted for a key visual instead. It appears this live-action Pochita clip is now lost, with Sugiyama expressing hope that it might surface someday.

Okay, seriously, if Chainsaw Man ever gets a full live-action TV show, I can totally see Norman Reedus being perfect for a role! The story kicks off with Denji battling devils that are pretty zombie-like, and let’s be real, the guy is Daryl Dixon. He just knows how to handle that kind of chaotic, monster-filled world.

You can currently stream Chainsaw Man Season 1 and the movie, Chainsaw Man: The Reze Arc, on Crunchyroll.

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2026-05-31 17:40