Amazon Prime Video Unveils Cast Lineup for Takeshi’s Castle Reboot

Takeshi’s Citadel is returning this April, and forward of that, Amazon Prime Video has unveiled its forged lineup. Serving as a reboot of the unique Eighties Japanese recreation present, Takeshi Kitano returns as a resurrected Citadel Lord, organising difficult obstacles for its individuals. Different additions embrace Osamu Shitara (Star Wars Rebels) and Yuki Himura because the chief retainer and vassal of Takeshi’s Citadel, respectively. Comedians Shinya Ueda, Naomi Watanabe, and Ennosuke Ichikawa IV will seem as governors of three castles guarding the centre of Takeshi’s Citadel. TV presenter Hayato Tani and Subaru Kimura — finest identified for voicing Takeshi Goda/ Gian within the Doraemon anime — function the assault captains.

“Takeshi’s Castle is stuffed with fundamentals of selection exhibits,” fort lord Kitano mentioned in a ready assertion. “The way in which individuals boldly strive one thing almost unattainable and find yourself failing is without doubt one of the most enjoyable issues to look at. I hope you benefit from the present with out pondering an excessive amount of.” For the uninitiated, Takeshi’s Citadel was a Japanese recreation present, the place over 100 decided volunteer contestants would take part in an array of well-designed bodily challenges, comparable to balancing on a surfboard, swinging throughout a muddy pit, navigating throughout big trolling pins, a claustrophobic maze recreation, and an entire lot extra. Whereas most challenges are based mostly on talent and brains, some lean closely in the direction of luck, immediately disqualifying unfortunate individuals. By eliminating Takeshi in a laser-gun-based cart battle, the participant would win ¥1 million (about Rs. 6,14,000), on the time.

The Ball Run course has contestants climb up a steep slope whereas avoiding big boulders
Picture Credit score: Viacom/Comedy Central

The sequence spawned a number of different worldwide variations of Takeshi’s Citadel and even impressed bodily recreation exhibits comparable to Wipeout within the US and Whole Wipeout within the UK. In India, a shortened model of the unique Japanese Takeshi’s Citadel was aired on the Pogo TV channel, that includes comedic Hindi dubbing/ commentary by Jaaved Jaffrey (Jaadugar), which was maybe the most important draw of the present and made it fairly widespread for Indian audiences when it aired within the 2000s. When information in regards to the aforementioned reboot broke final yr, the actor expressed his interest in lending hilarious commentary for Hindi-speaking audiences. Presently, there is no such thing as a phrase on whether or not dubs might be included within the Amazon Prime Video model.

Whereas Takeshi’s Citadel’s commentary fashion may sound aged to a contemporary viewers — in the event that they observe the identical format — it will likely be fascinating to see what tech they use to make challenges extra daunting. Proximity sensors might be a great way to modernise the present, whereas one other cool concept could be to have the contestants put on GoPro or different motion cameras, so we get to expertise the influence first-hand when some big rubber beam slaps towards their faces or they fall head-first into mud.

Takeshi’s Citadel reboot might be obtainable for streaming in late April on Amazon Prime Video.