The official website for the live-action film adaptation of Hiroya Oku's Gantz science-fiction action manga has relaunched on Saturday with the first official theatrical teaser trailer. Before this 31-second teaser, the only videos available from the two-part film project were preview footage which aired on various television programs.

Kazunari Ninomiya (Tekkonkinkreet, Letters from Iwo Jima) of the Arashi musical group and award-winning actor Ken'ichi Matsuyama (Death Note, Detroit Metal City, NANA, The Legend of Kamui) star as two friends who are resurrected after a deadly subway accident and forced to take on violent, mysterious missions. Yuriko Yoshitaka (Kaiji), Natsuna, and Takayuki Yamada (Train Man, Crows Zero, H2: Kimi to Ita Hibi) also star in this film from director Shinsuke Sato (The Princess Blade, Suna-dokei, Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror).

The first film is slated to be completed by November, and it will open in Japan next January. The second film will open next spring.

Oku launched the "Final Phase" of his Gantz manga in Shueisha's Weekly Young Jump magazine last year. Gantz has been running in the magazine since July of 2000, and the first 27 volumes have sold over 10 million copies. Dark Horse Comics is publishing the 11th volume of the original manga in North America this month. ADV Films released Gonzo's television anime adaptation of the manga.