Arashi's "Pikanchi" series returns

It was revealed, that there will  be another spin-off movie of "Pika☆nchi", which stars all the Arashi members, 10 years after the second movie of this series. This new movie,  titled "Pika☆★☆nchi LIFE IS HARD Tabun HAPPY" ("Pikanchi Half"), will be the first time in 7 years for the members to star in a same movie together since "Kiiroi Namida", released in 2007. The last time they all acted toghether was for a drama special, "Saigo no Yakusoku", back in 2010.

"Pikanchi" series' first movie was titled "Pika☆nchi LIFE IS HARD Dakedo HAPPY" and was released in October 2002. It was Arashi's first starring film all together. The original idea for this movie came from Inohara Yoshihiko (V6), who also co-wrote the screenplay and made appearances in the movie. It was about the youth of 5 high school students that lived in an apatmenet comlex in Tokyo. The 5 friends live the wildlife in Harajuku before encountering unforseen surprises.

In 2004, its sequel "Pika☆☆nchi LIFE IS HARD Dakara HAPPY" (read as "Pikanchi Double") was released. It featured the reunion of the 5 guys in their 20s. Inohara also co-wrote this and appeared in it.

The new spin-off movie will be about the 5, now in their 30s, reuniting after 10 years as they're running into problems with their family or work. This movie will written by Kawahara Masahiko, who also wrote the other movies of "Pikanchi" series and directed by Kimura Hisashi ("Kindaichi Shonen no Jikenbo", "ATARU").

This spin-off will be placed as the series' "2.5th" work, as Matsumoto Jun explains, "If we placed it as the 3rd release, the hurdle would be too high." Ninomiya Kazunari also commnted, that the film will be "quite loose, since it suddelny started." Reportedly, the plan for this movie was started in April.

Though Arashi sach the theme songs for both previous films, they will not do so for the new spin-off, as it's the "2.5th" work.

"Pika☆★☆nchi LIFE IS HARD Tabun HAPPY" will be screened limitedly at TOKYO DOME CITY HALL from August 1 until August 31. Beeing screened 4 times a day, this movie is expected to mobilize 250,000 people.

Source: AsianWiki, Daily Sports Online, jnews1, Johnny's-net, tokyohive