Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX) has released the main trailer and official key art for Human Vapor, a new Japanese thriller series set to premiere globally on 2 July 2026. The eight-episode drama reimagines Toho's 1960 science fiction classic The Human Vapor, transforming the iconic story into a contemporary suspense epic with an entirely original narrative.

The project marks the first collaboration between NFLX and Toho, one of Japan's most storied film studios, bringing together acclaimed filmmakers from Japan and South Korea. The series is created, written, and executive produced by Yeon Sang-ho, the director behind internationally acclaimed titles including Train to Busan, Hellbound, and Parasyte: The Grey. Directing duties are handled by Shinzo Katayama, known for his dark and psychologically intense work on Gannibal, Siblings of the Cape, and Missing.

Inspired by Toho's 1960 film directed by Ishiro Honda and written by Takeshi Kimura, the series expands the original concept into a large-scale thriller exploring themes of fear, power, and social collapse. The production represents a significant creative undertaking that bridges classic Japanese cinema with contemporary streaming storytelling across international audiences.

The cast is led by acclaimed Japanese actors Shun Oguri, Yu Aoi, and Suzu Hirose, alongside Kento Hayashi, Uta Uchida, and Yutaka Takenouchi. The combination of a celebrated Korean director and a high-profile Japanese cast reflects the cross-border creative approach NFLX has pursued with its Asian content slate.

All eight episodes of Human Vapor will begin streaming worldwide exclusively on NFLX on 2 July 2026. The series is positioned as a major international release for the platform's summer 2026 schedule and represents a notable milestone in the NFLX-Toho relationship, which has not previously resulted in a co-produced original series.