The horror and thriller production company Blumhouse Television has secured the rights to adapt the Japanese psychological thriller novel Hi No Ko (Sparks) for American television. The project marks another international expansion for the studio known for producing hit franchises like The Purge and Insidious.
Krystal Houghton Ziv, who wrote for Wolf Pack and The Purge TV series, will write the pilot episode and serve as executive producer. The adaptation comes from author Shusuke Shizukui’s bestselling novel, which has sold more than 770,000 copies in Japan.
What Sparks Is About
The story follows Takeuchi Shingo, a man suspected of multiple murders who was released after retired judge Kajima Isao acquitted him two years earlier. The situation becomes tense when Takeuchi moves into the house next door to the Kajima family home.
Takeuchi grew up without love from his parents. This childhood shapes everything he does. He works very hard to make people like him. He offers nice gifts, gives a charming smile, and helps elderly people. But when someone starts to avoid him, he becomes violent.
Takeuchi slowly wins over the Kajima family with his friendly behavior. Soon after, strange and unexplainable things begin happening near their home. Yukimi, who is married to Isao’s son Toshir, figures out what Takeuchi really is. Without help from her family, she tries to show everyone the truth about their neighbor.
A Past TV Version
This is not the first time Sparks has been adapted for television. In 2016, Fuji TV Network in Japan turned the novel into a miniseries. It was the first show to air in the network’s new drama time slot. The first episode received the highest satisfaction rating among all season premieres at that time.
The Japanese version had nine episodes and starred Yûsuke Santamaria as Takeuchi Shingo. Other cast members included Haruka Kinami, Ryûta Satô, and Mayumi Asaka.
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Who Is Making the Show
Blumhouse Television is leading the production. The company has a strong track record of turning scary and intense stories into successful shows and movies.
Krystal Houghton Ziv will write and executive produce the pilot. She has worked on shows like Deadly Class, Rush Hour, CSI: Miami, and Wolf Pack.
Mark Amin, Cami Winikoff, and Dave Devries from Sobini Films are also executive producers. Sobini previously worked on The Apprentice and Dead Man’s Wire. Motoko Kimura, who produced A Moment to Remember and LDK, joins as an executive producer too.
The Author Behind the Story
Shusuke Shizukui started writing books in 2000 with his first work Eiko Itto. Since then, he has created many popular novels. Several of his books have been turned into movies or TV shows, including Fire Spark, Closed Note, and Wish.
His novel Sparks remains one of his most successful works. The book’s deep look at a friendly neighbor who hides a violent side has kept readers hooked for years. The upcoming U.S. version will bring that same tension to American audiences.
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