For years, live-action anime adaptations have largely been through films and television projects, but stage productions have quietly become one of the industry’s biggest success stories. From long-running shōnen franchises to modern hits, theatrical adaptations have found a dedicated audience in Japan. Now, one of anime and manga’s biggest modern properties is bringing that experience to North America with the Chainsaw Man live-action adaptation.
Fans of Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Chainsaw Man will get a rare opportunity this summer when Chainsaw Man: The Stage arrives at Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles, per @AnimeExpo on X. While the production itself won’t be performing live in the United States, attendees will be able to get an exclusive look behind the scenes of the acclaimed stage adaptation, marking the franchise’s biggest live-action presence in America to date.
Anime Expo 2026 Is Bringing Chainsaw Man’s Stage Production To Fans
Anime Expo has confirmed a special event dedicated to Chainsaw Man: The Stage on July 2 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Hosted by Nelke Planning, the panel will run from 4:30 p.m. to 5:20 p.m. in Petree Hall and will give attendees an inside look at how Fujimoto’s violent and visually ambitious series was transformed into a theatrical production.
The event will feature a screening of highlight footage from the stage adaptation, giving American audiences a chance to see key moments from the production without traveling to Japan. In addition, fans will receive an exclusive video message from members of the original cast and creative team who helped bring Denji’s world to life on stage.
The appearance is another sign of how far Chainsaw Man has expanded beyond manga and anime. Since debuting in Weekly Shonen Jump, the franchise has grown into one of Shueisha’s most successful modern properties, spawning an anime adaptation, feature film projects, merchandise lines, and now an internationally promoted stage production showcased at the largest anime convention in North America.
The Reze Arc Takes Center Stage As Chainsaw Man Continues To Grow
The latest version of Chainsaw Man: The Stage will adapt the events of the highly anticipated Reze storyline, one of the manga’s most beloved arcs. The production is scheduled to run in Japan from July 25 through August 12, bringing the Bomb Devil and one of Denji’s most important relationships to the theatrical spotlight.
Director and scriptwriter Fumiya Matsuzaki has emphasized that the creative team is building on the experience gained from the original stage production. Nearly three years after the first play debuted, the returning staff aims to push the technical and artistic boundaries of the adaptation while preserving the series’ unique blend of emotional storytelling, absurd comedy, and explosive action.
10 Years Later, Chainsaw Man’s Studio Teases Anime Adaptation Of Shonen Jump’s Most Controversial Manga
Studio MAPPA is celebrating a major milestone by revealing new information about a slew of anime titles, and is hinting at a new project in the works.
The stage adaptation also arrives during a major transitional period for the franchise. Although Fujimoto’s original manga story reached a significant conclusion earlier this year, the animated version still has plenty of material left to cover. Studio MAPPA has already confirmed work on the next major Chainsaw Man installment, the Assassins Arc, though fans are still waiting to learn whether it will arrive as a television season or another theatrical release.
That uncertainty has only increased anticipation surrounding Anime Expo 2026. With Chainsaw Man: The Stage receiving a dedicated showcase and the anime’s future still generating questions, the convention could become one of the most important events of the year for fans eager to see where Denji’s blood-soaked journey goes next.
- Cast
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Kikunosuke Toya, Tomori Kusunoki, Shôgo Sakata, Ai Fairouz, Mariya Ise, Kenjiro Tsuda, Shiori Izawa, Reina Ueda
- Created by
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Tatsuki Fujimoto
- Upcoming Films
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Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc (2025)
- Latest TV Show
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Chainsaw Man