Blumhouse Television to Adapt Shusuke Shizukui’s Novel ‘Sparks’ into a TV Series
Blumhouse Television Acquires Rights to Japanese Novel ‘Hi No Ko’ for TV Adaptation
Blumhouse Television has secured the rights to the Japanese-language novel Hi No Ko, penned by Shusuke Shizukui and published by Gentosha. Krystal Houghton Ziv, known for her work on Wolf Pack and The Purge, will write the pilot for the psychological thriller’s U.S. television adaptation and serve as executive producer.
The story centers around Takeuchi Shingo, a serial murder suspect previously acquitted by retired judge Kajima Isao two years prior. Now living next door to the Kajima family, Takeuchi exhibits a charming demeanor, often going out of his way to please others, particularly the elderly. Despite his outward goodwill, he becomes increasingly violent when he feels rejected. Tension escalates when a series of mysterious incidents occur around the Kajima household, leading Yukimi, the wife of Isao’s son Toshir, to suspect Takeuchi’s true nature. Isolated from her family, she becomes determined to uncover the truth.
Originally, Hi No Ko was adapted into a Japanese television miniseries that aired in 2016, marking the debut title of Fuji TV Network’s new drama slot. The adaptation achieved high acclaim, garnering the top satisfaction rating for first episodes, as reported by Data News Inc.
Executive producers on the project include Mark Amin, Cami Winikoff, and Dave Devries of Sobini, along with Motoko Kimura, known for works such as A Moment to Remember and LDK.
Shizukui, who made his literary debut in 2000 with Eiko Itto, has since authored numerous bestselling titles, including Sparks (Hi No Ko), which has sold over 770,000 copies. Many of his works have also been adapted for film and television, further cementing his status in contemporary literature.
