The cult classic zombie-slaying action title Lollipop Chainsaw is expanding into a live-action Hollywood feature film, according to announcements made during the Tokyo Game Show. Ambitious Entertainment producer Kirk Shaw and former ZDF Studios vice president of drama Robert Franke are spearheading the project, aiming for a worldwide cinematic release.
According to announcements from the livestreamed “Lollipop Chainsaw New Project” presentation, the upcoming film adaptation is completely separate from previously announced anime plans for the franchise. The production roster also includes Nada Holdings founder Joe Teng, Throne Inc. managing director Takafumi Yūki, and Non Stop TV president Patricio Rabuffetti, as reported by Deadline.
Franchise History and Origins
The original Lollipop Chainsaw launched in June 2012 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Developed by Grasshopper Manufacture and published by Kadokawa Games alongside Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, the hack-and-slash game was born from a creative collaboration between Gōichi Suda (Suda51) and filmmaker James Gunn.
The intellectual property experienced a period of limbo before Yoshimi Yasuda, former CEO of Kadokawa Games and current CEO of Dragami Games, purchased the rights. Dragami Games subsequently released Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP, a remastered version of the original game, digitally across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam in September 2024.
Upcoming Sequel Plans
Alongside the live-action film announcement, Dragami Games and Nada Holdings revealed plans to launch a new video game titled Lollipop Chainsaw 2 Back2Back for the PlayStation 5 in 2027. Development is being handled by JP Universe, led by Final Fantasy XV director Hajime Tabata.
The creative team for the upcoming sequel features returning talent, including original writer Masahiro Yuki crafting the story and original character designer NekoshowguN returning to visual design duties. Nada Holdings previously stated in July 2025 that the new game projects developed in partnership with Dragami Games will proceed without creative restrictions tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion frameworks, though specific operational details were not disclosed.