According to Outlook Respawn, a brand-new live-action adaptation of the beloved Great Teacher Onizuka manga franchise is in the works, reviving one of anime and manga's most iconic properties for a new generation.
Why This Is a Massive Deal for Casting Fans
For the uninitiated, GTO is not a small property. Tohru Fujisawa's manga ran through the late '90s and spawned a beloved anime series, a live-action Japanese TV drama, and even a short-lived live-action film — all built around one of fiction's most charismatic anti-heroes: Eikichi Onizuka, the 22-year-old ex-gang member who becomes the most unconventional high school teacher imaginable. The character is a force of nature — physically imposing, emotionally raw, and genuinely devoted to his students beneath all the bravado. Casting him correctly is everything.
Beyond Onizuka himself, a faithful adaptation lives or dies by its supporting cast. Urumi Kanzaki, the cold genius student with a vendetta, demands an actress who can balance razor-sharp intelligence with buried vulnerability. Azusa Fuyutsuki, the idealistic fellow teacher who serves as Onizuka's moral compass and love interest, needs warmth and quiet strength. These are meaty, complex roles — exactly the kind that fuel great fancasting debates.
No myCast Story Yet? That's Your Cue
Here's the thing: as of right now, there is no dedicated GTO fancast story on myCast — which, honestly, feels like an open goal just waiting to be scored. The international fanbase for this franchise is massive and passionate, and the conversation about who should lead this revival is already happening in comment sections and forums around the web. It should be happening here, with actual votes and real community picks.
This is a genuine opportunity to be the person who starts the definitive GTO fancast. Whether you want to advocate for a Japanese-led cast honoring the source material, pitch international actors who could bring Onizuka to a global streaming audience, or simply rank your dream lineup for every major student in Class 3-4, myCast is where that conversation belongs. Head over and create the story right now — the first great GTO fancast on the platform is yours to build.
The Casting Conversation Worth Having
The previous live-action Japanese drama cast Takashi Sorimachi in the role back in 1998, and his performance became so iconic in Japan that it's practically inseparable from the character for an entire generation of fans. Any new production — especially one potentially aimed at a broader international audience — is going to have to reckon with that legacy. Does the new series lean into a Japanese cast and stay true to the setting? Does it pursue a more globally recognizable name to anchor the project for streaming platforms hungry for international hits?