Dandadan Hits the Stage: Popular Manga Series Gets Its First Theatrical Adaptation
One of the wildest and most beloved series on the Shonen Jump+ platform, Dandadan, continues to push boundaries! This supernatural adventure from the pen of Yukinobu Tatsu is now stepping into the world of live performance. According to the official announcement, the series' first stage play adaptation will meet audiences in Tokyo and Osaka in August and September 2026. The project will be directed by Imagine Ito (Umebou), who is known for his physical storytelling style and has previously worked on successful productions such as Mashle The Stage and Touken Ranbu.
Series creator Yukinobu Tatsu could not hide his surprise and excitement at the announcement. Tatsu, a former assistant to Chainsaw Man creator Tatsuki Fujimoto and Hell’s Paradise creator Yuji Kaku, has carved out a unique place for himself in modern manga with Dandadan. The series, which began in 2021 and reached 23 volumes as of April 2026, has surpassed 12 million copies sold worldwide. The absurd and action-packed story of Momo Ayase, who believes in spirits, and Ken 'Okarun' Takakura, who is obsessed with aliens, will now be combined with the dynamism of the theater stage.
Known in Japan as '2.5D' adaptations, these types of productions offer fans the opportunity to see the chaotic energy of the manga in the flesh. The script for the Dandadan stage play will be written by Shinjiro Kameda (Hypnosis Mic), while the music will be composed by Ryo Konishi, who served as the music director for the 2025 Osaka Expo. Although bringing the series' visual spectacle and high tempo to the stage is a major challenge, the team's experience has already excited fans. There is great curiosity about how iconic enemies like Turbo Granny and the Serpo Aliens will be brought to life on stage.
This theatrical move is also proof of how much the Dandadan brand has grown. Following the great success of the first two seasons of the anime adaptation produced by Science SARU, this stage play will be a great stop for fans before the third season airs in 2027. Although the cast has not yet been announced, character visuals and ticket details are expected to be shared in the coming weeks. If you want to run away from both aliens and ghosts at the same time, keep an eye on the stages in Japan this summer!
