Human Vapor
A 2026 sci-fi crime thriller based on the 1960 tokusatsu film.
Last updated
This series is a Japanese–South Korean co-production; Yeon Sang-ho and Ryu Yong-jae wrote the screenplay, and Shinzo Katayama directed it.[1]
Making and release
Script development took three years, with Ryu Yong-jae joining as co-writer.[2] Principal photography commenced in September 2024 at Toho's Stage 9 in Tokyo.[3] Additional location shoots occurred in Shizuoka Prefecture from February to April 2025.[3] To update the gaseous transformations, the production used both practical effects and CGI.[3]
On July 2, 2026, Human Vapor had its worldwide premiere on Netflix.[4] During Netflix's 2025 earnings call, co-CEO Ted Sarandos pointed to Human Vapor as a major upcoming title.[4]
What the cited sources add
The Korea Herald reported that the reboot series will feature an original plot set in contemporary Japan.[5] Screen Daily noted that the origins of the remake go back to 2018 when Yeon met with Toho producer Nian Feng about remaking one of the films in Toho’s Transforming Human series.[6] The Netflix official teaser described the culprit as a man who can transform his body into gas and slip through any barrier.[7] The teaser also confirmed that all eight episodes started streaming worldwide on July 2, 2026.[7]
Deadline reported that Ted Sarandos listed Japan’s The Human Vapor among new series for 2026.[8] Bleeding Cool reported that the original film follows a librarian who, after radiation experiments, can turn into a gaseous state.[9]
References
- Wikipedia, "Human Vapor" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Brzeski, "The Villain Made of Gas: Inside Netflix and Toho’s Ambitious Bet on ‘Human Vapor’", The Hollywood Reporter, 6 July 2026 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Human Vapor" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Netflix, Toho to remake sci-fi ‘The Human Vapor’ written by Train to Busan’s Yeon Sang-ho", Screen Daily, August 8, 2024 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Human Vapor" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "【配信ドラマ「ガス人間」片山慎三監督インタビュー】", Shizuoka Shimbun, April 30, 2025; 『FLASH』編集部, "小栗旬、Netflix『ガス人間第一号』リブート作品現場に"自腹200人分"服提供の太っ腹！蒼井優も驚いた東宝全面協力の"大迫力ロケ"", Smart FLASH/スマフラ[光文社週刊誌], 2025-02-14; "Netflix Working on Live-Action Series Adaptation of 'The Human Vapor'", What's on Netflix, October 23, 2024 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Human Vapor" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: 『FLASH』編集部, "小栗旬、Netflix『ガス人間第一号』リブート作品現場に"自腹200人分"服提供の太っ腹！蒼井優も驚いた東宝全面協力の"大迫力ロケ"", Smart FLASH/スマフラ[光文社週刊誌], 2025-02-14; "Video: Human Vapor - Official Teaser - Netflix", Netflix, May 12, 2026; Hayes, "Ted Sarandos Has 37 Reasons Why Netflix’s Programming Mojo Will Continue Through 2026", Deadline, 2025-07-17 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- "Japanese SF film 'The Human Vapor' to be remade as Netflix series", The Korea Herald, August 8, 2024. facts only, no text reused. koreaherald.com
- "Netflix, Toho to remake sci-fi ‘The Human Vapor’ written by Train to Busan’s Yeon Sang-ho", Screen Daily, August 8, 2024. facts only, no text reused. screendaily.com
- "Video: Human Vapor - Official Teaser - Netflix", Netflix, May 12, 2026. facts only, no text reused. thefutoncritic.com
- Hayes, "Ted Sarandos Has 37 Reasons Why Netflix’s Programming Mojo Will Continue Through 2026", Deadline, 2025-07-17. facts only, no text reused. deadline.com
- "Human Vapor: Netflix Set to Remake Japanese Sci-Fi Classic as Series", Bleeding Cool, August 8, 2024. facts only, no text reused. bleedingcool.com
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Human Vapor (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
More in South Korean science fiction television series
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Human Vapor (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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