Dragami Games Announces R-Rated Live-Action Lollipop Chainsaw Movie

Dragami Games has officially announced that a live-action Lollipop Chainsaw movie is in development, revealing the project as part of its Tokyo Game Show 2026 lineup. The studio behind the series’ revival confirmed the film’s existence through coverage by Deadline, marking yet another expansion of the franchise alongside previously announced installments including an anime series and a video game sequel.

The upcoming feature will follow Juliet Starling as its protagonist once again, bringing the chainsaw-wielding cheerleader to the big screen. Set before the events of Grasshopper Manufacture’s original bubblegum action game, the film is being developed as an “R-rated action comedy” that tells a prequel story. According to Deadline’s synopsis, when a catastrophic zombie outbreak engulfs her school, Juliet must fight her way through the undead to save her friends, protect her family, and somehow keep her boyfriend Nick close—even if doing so ultimately requires some highly unconventional arrangements.

An International Creative Team Takes Hold

The film is being developed by what Dragami describes as an “international creative and production team.” The roster includes Nada Holdings’ Joe Teng, former ZDF Studios drama boss Robert Franke, Throne Inc MD Takafumi Yuki, Ambitious Entertainment’s Kirk Shaw, and Non Stop TV’s Patricio Rabuffetti. Notably, there is no confirmation that original team members such as Suda51 or now-DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn are attached to the project at this stage, suggesting they are not involved in any capacity.

“We are truly excited to see our vision take another important step with the franchise’s first live-action feature film. We are especially pleased to be working with such an experienced and passionate international team—one that understands what makes Lollipop Chainsaw special while embracing the opportunity to create something new.”

Shohei Sato, Dragami Games president

A Franchise Reanimated After a Decade of Slumber

Lollipop Chainsaw has experienced a resurgence despite largely staying out of the public eye for roughly a decade. While it maintained its status as a cult classic and fan-favorite Suda51 game, Juliet only began turning heads again once Dragami announced its RePop remaster in 2022. Whether this latest attempt to reanimate the franchise will succeed remains uncertain.

The film arrives shortly after Dragami revealed Lollipop Chainsaw 2 Back2Back earlier this week. First gameplay footage of that project has shown a title that looks both familiar and radically different, leaving some fans hesitant about whether it can stick the landing without Suda51 or Gunn’s involvement. The movie announcement has drawn similar reactions from the community.

“We are making a film that feels unmistakably true to the spirit of Lollipop Chainsaw while standing completely on its own. Longtime fans will recognize the attitude, irreverence, and glorious excess they love, while newcomers can simply enjoy an unforgettable action-horror comedy. Our ambition is to create a film that entertains audiences everywhere, whether they’ve played the game or not.”

Robert Franke

Looking Ahead

The Lollipop Chainsaw movie joins a growing slate of upcoming video game movies and TV shows targeting 2026 release dates and beyond. As Dragami continues its ambitious push to expand the franchise across multiple mediums, enthusiasts can revisit the original game through IGN’s 5/10 review, which noted that it “doesn’t even attempt to differentiate itself from the genre, and most of what it does try new in the realm of its characters and writing ultimately ends up taking away from an incredible-on-paper action game.” The outlet added that “the music and sidekick are really all you can rely on to stay great from start to finish,” concluding that the rest of Lollipop Chainsaw “settles for mediocrity and disappointment.”