First Trailer for Live-Action 'Lupin III'

The comical capers of master thief Lupin III have been around for more than forty years through the manga, numerous anime series and films (including one by Hayao Miyazaki), and even a live-action film way back in 1974. Over the last few weeks images have been springing up from the new live-action Lupin III movie, directed by Ryuhei Kitamura (No One Lives, Midnight Meat Train), and now we have the first trailer.

In keeping with the tradition of the series there appears to be a ton of slapstick humor, wild acrobatics, some samurai-style swordplay, and stylish gunplay. This is mostly a series of action shots and little indication of the plot, but supposedly it involves Lupin and his team infiltrating a fortress known as the Ark of Navarone. It's a little tough to get a handle on the time period it takes place in, though. Shun Oguri (Sukiyaki Western Django) takes on the title role and he more than looks the part when in action.

Lupin III opens in Japan on August 30th.