Junji Ito's Horror Manga 'Strange: Junji Ito's Tales for Sleepless Nights' This Autumn on HBO Max

Junji Ito fans have exciting news: The live-action anthology series based on the Japanese horror master's short stories, 'Strange: Junji Ito's Tales for Sleepless Nights', will be released internationally this autumn on HBO Max. The series previews were held at the recent Anime Expo event and received great interest.

The series brings to the screen the lesser-known but equally chilling stories of the legendary manga artist known for unforgettable works such as Tomie, Uzumaki, and Gyo. Each episode will tell an independent story featuring Ito's signature psychological horror and body deformation themes. The production brings together important names in Japanese horror cinema; directors include Shō Miyake, previously known for the series Ju-On: Origins.

HBO Max's move once again demonstrates the platform's commitment to Japanese productions. Having previously added popular anime like Attack on Titan and Jujutsu Kaisen to its library, HBO Max is now taking an ambitious step into the live-action horror genre. The series is seen as a great opportunity for Western audiences to enter Junji Ito's universe. The episodes shown at Anime Expo received full marks from fans, and it is noted that the visual effects successfully reflect the manga pages.

Junji Ito's works have previously been adapted into anime such as Junji Ito Collection and Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre. However, this is Ito's first major production to be released in live-action format on an international platform. The series is expected to consist of 12 episodes, each approximately 30 minutes long. Although the release date has not been finalized, it is planned to be added to the HBO Max catalog in the autumn months (likely between October and November 2025).

Sources: Anime News Network, HBO Max press release