Uncertain Success Kazunari Ninomiya’s Exit 8 Sparks Mixed Reactions

Kazunari Ninomiya (41) will star in his first film after his independent career with 8-Ban Deguchi (The 8th Exit), directed by Genki Kawamura, set to be released on August 29. The film is based on the escape game of the same name released in 2023, where Ninomiya plays a character trapped in an underground passage, trying to escape through the “8th Exit.”

The original game is set in a Japanese subway station. Players are trapped in an endlessly looping underground tunnel and aim for the “8th Exit.” Its unique and eerie world gained attention, surpassing 1.5 million downloads worldwide, an exceptional feat for an indie game. The total views of related videos on YouTube, including game streams, have exceeded 100 million, creating a social phenomenon. The game focuses solely on escaping, with no explanation of how the player got lost underground. The lack of a storyline makes how the movie will develop into a story a point of interest.

Ninomiya commented to various media, saying, “It’s difficult to put into words, but I want viewers to focus on every second I’ve carefully crafted.”

First leading movie after independence based on popular game

After announcing his independence from Johnny’s in October 2023, following the sexual abuse scandal, Ninomiya took immediate steps toward his future. He founded his new company, “Office Nino,” in November, and since then, his career has been progressing smoothly.

In December, Ninomiya renamed his YouTube channel from “Jani no Channel” to “Yoni no Channel,” with 4.84 million subscribers as of April 9. By being one of the first to break away from Johnny’s, he managed to continue his activities with minimal disruption, even as other talents from SMILE faced a sharp decline in television and commercial offers due to the scandal.

This year, in addition to his ongoing role in the variety show “Nino-san” on Nippon TV, he launched a new TBS variety show, “Nino Nanoni,” on April 9. Additionally, his first new book, Prejudices and Opinions, will be released by Shueisha Shinsho on June 17.

In terms of acting, Ninomiya has starred in the live-action movie adaptation of the popular comic “Oshi no Ko – The Final Act,” which was released in December, and is currently appearing in the NHK drama “Anpan.” Against this backdrop, the announcement of his role in “8-Ban Deguchi” has garnered attention not only for the adaptation of a highly popular game but also as a pivotal piece for evaluating Ninomiya’s future in acting.

Despite the star-studded cast in the previous work

“Director Kawamura, who is also a film producer and novelist, has been involved in the planning and production of several hit films, including ‘Your Name.’ (2016) and ‘Monster’ (2023).

However, despite the star power of Masaki Suda (32) and Masami Nagasawa (37), his directorial debut with the film adaptation of his own novel, ‘Hyakka’ (2022), struggled at the box office, grossing only 560 million yen. In this latest project, it seems that the true value of Ninomiya as an actor will be put to the test, and the film will provide a glimpse into his current box office pull,” says a source from the film industry.

Entertainment journalist Kazuhiko Nita is somewhat critical of the film’s prospects.

“The target audience is game fans and Ninomiya fans. While the 1.5 million global downloads aren’t particularly high, it’s still unclear how many users in Japan will be willing to go to theaters. Although the film benefits from a large-scale release under Toho’s distribution, it’s uncertain whether it will become a hit.”

Ninomiya has garnered attention for his acting internationally, especially for his role in the Hollywood film “Letters from Iwo Jima” (2006), winning Best Actor awards at major Japanese film festivals such as the 39th Japan Academy Prize and the 89th Kinema Junpo Best Ten. Having steadily built his career as an actor, Nita offers this advice to Ninomiya:

“Given his experience and age, when considering his future acting career, appearing in this film raises some concerns about his long-term prospects. It’s about time he decided whether he wants to continue in lead roles or take on supporting roles. He needs to choose projects that will serve as turning points in his career, or it could become difficult for him to maintain a successful career as an actor.”

While the resumption of Arashi’s activities remains uncertain, Ninomiya has been steadily working. However, this film may present a critical turning point in his acting career.

 

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