Netflix’s New 8-Part Reboot Of 66-Year-Old Toho Sci-Fi Thriller Human Vapor Officially Releases This Summer

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Netflix is turning up the steam this summer with its series reboot of The Human Vapor.

Ishirō Honda’s 1960 sci-fi thriller from Toho tells the story of a man transformed into a gas by a botched experiment. He then turns to robbing banks to support his girlfriend’s dream of becoming a dancer. The Human Vapor was a hit with both critics and audiences, gained a devoted following, and is now considered one of the best Japanese films ever made.

Sixty-six years after the first film came out, Netflix is releasing a new eight-episode series called Human Vapor on July 2nd. Along with the announcement, a new trailer and poster were revealed, introducing UTA, who is making his acting debut as the main character, Human Vapor.

Netflix’s new series, Human Vapor, updates the classic story of a man who can turn into gas and uses this ability to rob banks. It comes from a talented team of Japanese and Korean filmmakers, including writer Yeon Sang-ho, known for Train to Busan, Hellbound, and Parasyte: The Grey, and director Shinzo Katayama, who previously worked on Gannibal, Siblings of the Cape, and Missing.

Besides UTA, the Netflix series stars Shun Oguri and Yu Aoi, reuniting them on screen after 23 years. They’re joined by Suzu Hirose, Kento Hayashi, and Yutaka Takenouchi. The original movie featured Yoshio Tsuchiya in the main role, with Kaoru Yachigusa, Tatsuya Mihashi, and Keiko Sata playing supporting characters.

The 1960 film The Human Vapor is now considered a classic science fiction thriller, largely because of its innovative special effects. The creators of the new Netflix series Human Vapor had a similar goal: to make the story feel realistic and believable, rather than purely fantastical.

Okay, so the visual effects in this show are seriously impressive. They’re done by Shirogumi, the same team that absolutely crushed it with Godzilla Minus One – those guys won an Oscar, remember? Combine that with these huge, elaborate sets, especially these crazy car chases, and it feels like you’re watching a big-budget movie, not a Japanese drama. Honestly, it’s a step up for Netflix, and it’s definitely made this series something that could appeal to viewers worldwide.

More than fifty years after its original release, The Human Vapor is being completely reimagined as a massive, worldwide event – something truly unprecedented.

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2026-05-26 20:20