"Lupin III" is a manga series written and illustrated by Monkey Punch, and it follows the story of master thief Arsène Lupin III, the grandson of Arsène Lupin, the gentleman thief of Maurice Leblanc's series of novels. It has remained popular even decades after its creation.

'Inspector Zenigata' Is Designed For TV

A live-action spin-off movie titled "Inspector Zenigata" (Zenigata Keibu) will be released this year. It is based on Monkey Punch's "Lupin III" franchise, and NTV, WOWOW, and Hulu Japan are collaborating on the project, Anime News Network said.

The franchise has already spawned a number of anime spin-offs, ComicBook said, even OVA works, musicals, video games, and live action adaptations, which proves how immensely popular it is. "Inspector Zenigata" is designed for TV, and it is set to be released in Japan on February 10, and more spin-offs will be aired by HULU later this month.

'Inspector Zenigata' Will Highlight The Good Guy For A Change

Inspector Zenigata is a character in the "Lupin" franchise, who constantly fails to catch the famed thief. In the live-action series, though, the detective will have more grit and tenacity as he tries to prove himself in the Tokyo Police force. He is a recurring character in the manga series and other spin-offs, and the rival of the titular character of the franchise. The crime drama is expected to be action-packed.

"Inspector Zenigata" stars Ryohei Suzuki, Atsuko Maeda and Takahiro Miura. Suzuki is Kōichi Zenigata; Maeda will play Natsuki Sakuraba - the young detective who values order and organization; Miura is Shintarō Kunikida - also a detective, and he has not yet managed to find success in his career. The spin-off will be directed by Tarō Ōtani (NTV) and Hitoshi Iwamoto (AXON), while the script is done by Masahiro Yamaura, Tetsuya Ōishi, Naoya Takayama, and Junpei Yamaoka.