MANILA, July 25, 2014 – Japanese director Keishi Otomo and actors Takeru Satoh, Emi Takei and Munetaka Aoki are flying to Manila to grace the Asian Premiere of “Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno,” this was jointly announced today by William Ireton, President & Representative Director of Warner Entertainment Japan Inc., and Francis Soliven, General Manager of Warner Bros. Philippines.

The invitational red carpet premiere is scheduled on Wednesday night, August 6 at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong. The Japanese talents are also expected to interact with the media and fans in a public press conference Thursday, August 7 at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati.

In making the announcement, Ireton stated, “We are thrilled to bring director Keishi Otomo and castmembers Takeru Satoh, Emi Takei and Munetaka Aoki to Manila so they can personally thank and engage with the loyal fans of `Rurouni Kenshin.' The Philippines is a very important market for the franchise as proven by the outstanding box-office success in Manila of the first `Rurouni Kenshin' film in 2013.”

For his part, Soliven said, “Moviegoers in the Philippines have helped create a wave of anticipation and excitement for the `Rurouni Kenshin' sequels and the upcoming talent visit is a much welcome recognition of the fans' ardent support.”

“Kyoto Inferno” which bows across the Philippines on August 20 is the first of two sequels to the 2013 blockbuster “Rurouni Kenshin.” The second, titled “The Legend Ends” opens onSeptember 24.

Based on the Kyoto arc of the popular manga series written & illustrated by Nobuhiro Watsuki, the “Rurouni Kenshin” sequels follow the story of Kenshin Himura (Satoh), a legendary swordsman in the wars accompanying the turbulent fall of Japan's Shogunate in the 19th century. Once feared as 'Battosai the Killer', he has adopted a peaceful life since the arrival of the 'new age'.

But Makoto Shishio (Tatsuya Fujiwara), the 'Shadow Killer' and successor to Kenshin's position as the deadly assassin, has since then been scheming in the Kyoto underworld, raising an army of disaffected former samurais with the aim of overthrowing the new regime.

Agreeing to a request by the new government to defeat Shishio, Kenshin leaves his beloved ones in Tokyo and sets out for Kyoto. He and Shishio are a match in skill and in wits, but their aims are opposite. Can Kenshin preserve the nation without breaking his vow that he will kill no more...?

The films also star Emi Takei (Kaoru Kamiya), Munetaka Aoki (Sanosuke Sagara), Kaito Oyagi (Yahiko Myojin), Yu Aoi (Megumi Takani), Yosuke Eguchi (Hajime Saito), Min Tanaka (Nenji Kashiwazaki), Tao Tsuchiya (Misao Makimachi), Ryunosuke Kamiki (Soujiro Seta), Maryjun Takahashi (Yumi Komagata) and Tatsuya Fujiwara (Makoto Shishio).

The first sequel, “Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno” will open across the Philippines on Aug. 20, 2014, to be followed by “Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends” on Sept. 24, 2014. Both films are distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.

MANILA, May 26, 2014 – Warner Bros. Pictures Philippines will roll-out a back-to-back release platform for the eagerly anticipated sequels of “Rurouni Kenshin.” This was announced today by Francis Soliven, General Manager of Warner Bros. (F.E.), Inc.

The first sequel, “Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno” will open here on Aug. 20, 2014, to be followed one month after by “Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends” on Sept. 24, 2014. (The teaser trailer for the two titles can now be viewed athttp://youtu.be/MSqj9n0VqIQ.)

The release pattern will allow fans to experience the cathartic conclusion to the celebrated saga with little time in between and honors the filmmakers' wishes as to how the sequels should be viewed. The twin features will have the same opening window in Japan.

With the release of the original “Rorouni Kenshin” last year, Japanese cinema entered a new era. A commercial film combining unparalleled speed and overwhelming action in a moving human drama, it was an explosive blockbuster that was met with riotous enthusiasm by the fans.

This was the first motion picture inspired by Kenshin the Wanderer: The Romance of the Meiji Swordsman (Shueisha Jump Comics), the monumental manga comic by Nobuhiro Watsuki that has sold more than 5.8 million copies and been translated into more than 20 languages.

Directed by Keishi Ōtomo, the film told of fictional events that took place during the early Meiji period in Japan, focusing on a wanderer named Himura Kenshin (Takeru Satoh), formerly known as the assassin Hitokiri Battōsai. After participating in the Bakumatsu war, Kenshin wanders the countryside of Japan offering protection and aid to those in need as atonement for the murders he once committed as an assassin.

The filmmakers faced a serious challenge in meeting the high expectations of the manga fans, a challenge they succeeded beyond anyone’s expectations as the film arrived to a rapturous reception throughout Japan, quickly taking in more than 3 billion yen at the box office. Word-of-mouth spread quickly overseas, and “Rurouni Kenshin” was shown in 31 festivals and received distribution in 64 territories, including the Philippines.

The production team was aware from the start that the “Rurouni Kenshin” story would not be complete without a film version of the “Kyoto Arc,” the highest-rated and best-loved segment that serves as a climax to the manga series. Coincidentally, the resolution and determination with which the main character Kenshin survives through a turbulent age serve as a guidepost to the filmmakers.

And so, in answer to calls from around the world demanding “more Kenshin,” the filmmakers proudly present “Kyoto Inferno” and “The Legend Ends.”