Live-action remakes of anime and manga are huge right now, so it’s no surprise to learn that The Apothecary Diaries is getting one. The hit franchise made waves in 2025 with season 2 of its anime adaptation, so now seems like the perfect time to go all in on a live-action version of the critically acclaimed story.
As reported on by the weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun, Mana Ashida is attached to play Maomao in the live-action adaptation of The Apothecary Diaries.
Though only 21, Ashida is an acclaimed actress with more than a few roles under her belt. She, most famously, played the child version of Mako Mori in Pacific Rim. More recently, Ashida played the title heroine in Mamoru Hosoda’s Scarlet.
Unfortunately, beyond the casting of Ashida and the fact that it will be a live-action film, no other details, including release date or production company, have been revealed, leaving fans with a great deal to ponder.
The Apothecary Diaries’ Live-Action Film Is Facing an Uphill Battle
Of course, the news is sure to create a rift in the fandom. While some may be excited about the prospect of Maomao’s adventures coming to the big screen, the disastrous quality of some live-action anime could leave others with trepidation.
In addition to the normal fears that come with any live-action adaptation of anime, come more specific fears about The Apothecary Diaries. While the series is a Japanese creation with a Japanese author, The Apothecary Diaries is quite firmly set in ancient China.
Given this, the casting of a Japanese actress to play a Chinese character is sure to ruffle some feathers, especially given the historical tension between Japan and China.
Though both of these issues represent significant concerns, The Apothecary Diaries has a better chance than anime of succeeding in live-action… Just not the way the movie is doing things.
The Apothecary Diaries Should Have Been a TV Series
The Apothecary Diaries seems like a perfect fit for weekly TV. The medical mystery genre has had success in episodic TV series before, most famously with shows like House, and that episodic format benefits the anime series greatly.
Adapting The Apothecary Diaries’ story to a movie format will inherently involve truncating much of the series’ story, potentially robbing it of its power.
The Apothecary Diaries was one of the best anime of 2025, so it makes sense that the series would get a live-action adaptation. The series’ more grounded story could make it a natural fit for live-action.
Still, as with any live-action adaptation of an anime, light novel, or manga, fans of The Apothecary Diary have good reason to temper their expectations.
- Release Date
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2023 – 2025-00-00
- Network
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Nippon TV, RAB, TVI, YBC, JRT
- Directors
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Jun Owada, Akira Koremoto, Kentaro Fujita, Yukihiko Asaki, Erkin Kawabata, Shintaro Itoga, Tsuyoshi Nakano, Akira Shimizu, Yuushi Ibe, Kyohei Yamamoto, Masahiro Matsunaga, Tadao Okubo, Misu Yamaneko
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Takeo Otsuka
Jinshi (voice)
