SLL has announced that its hit series Thirty-Nine will be adapted into a Japanese stage play titled 39 Years Old (39歲).
The original series, Thirty-Nine (Written by Yu Young-ah / Directed by Kim Sang-ho / Produced by SLL and Lotte Cultureworks), is a grounded slice-of-life drama exploring the friendship, love, and lives of three friends on the verge of turning 40. The show earned significant acclaim for its relatable portrayal of emotional bonds in everyday life, with its finale recording a series-high viewership rating of 8.1%.
The stage play 39 Years Old serves as a theatrical reimagining of the series. The production will transition the screen-based story into a performing arts format, translating the character dynamics and emotional arcs of the source material through live music and performance.
The project features a heavyweight creative team from both Korea and Japan. The script is penned by Riko Sakaguchi (Climbing for Life, Life as a Girl, Your Lie in April), with music by Kim Hyo-eun, the rising composer behind the acclaimed Korean musical HOPE and creative dance drama Navillera. Rounding out the team are lyricist Ikue Nagata (Robot in the Garden) and director Yuna Koyama (Roses’ Dilemma, Finding Neverland).
The production boasts a stellar cast, featuring legendary stars of the Takarazuka Revue, a century-old Japanese theater institution with a massive fandom. The central trio will be played by Manato Asaka (Cha Mi-jo, originally played by Son Ye-jin), Hiroki Nanami (Jeong Chan-young, originally Jeon Mi-do), and Nene Yumesaki (Jang Joo-hee, originally Kim Ji-hyun). Also joining the cast are Yuki Aiba as Kim Seon-u, Isse Maeda as Kim Jin-seok, and Kensuke Takahashi as Park Hyun-joon.
SLL is accelerating its push into the Japanese market by leveraging proven series IPs for live performance content. By diversifying into new genres and formats, it aims to extend the lifecycle of original IPs like Thirty-Nine and maximize their value in the global marketplace.
“Thirty-Nine demonstrated the power of storytelling centered on character relationships and emotions,” said Charles Park, SVP, Content Business, SLL. “The stage play 39 Years Old will serve as an opportunity to show how our IP can transcend boundaries in both culture and medium through creative adaptation.”
39 Years Old is set to premiere this September at the IMM Theater in Tokyo and the Theater Drama City of Umeda Arts Theater in Osaka.
