After the success of its 2024 South Korean series, Parasyte: The Grey, Netflix is creating another live-action show set in the Parasyte world. The new series, titled Parasyte: Tamiya, is based on the original Parasyte, a popular Japanese manga by Hitoshi Iwaaki.
Parasyte: The Grey is a live-action series based on the well-known manga. It’s created by Yeon Sang-ho, who will also be working on the upcoming Parasyte: Tamiya alongside Ryu Yong-jae. The show features Shioli Kutsuna (known for her roles in Sanctuary and Deadpool 2) and is scheduled to premiere on Netflix in 2027.
What Will Parasyte: Tamiya Be About?
The manga series Parasyte features parasitic creatures that invade and control human brains. These parasites don’t typically feel emotions, but are driven by a basic need to feed. While they drastically alter their hosts’ bodies into disturbing forms, their most frightening trait is their ability to appear human.
The new Netflix series, Parasyte: Tamiya, centers around Ryoko Tamiya (played by Shioli Kutsuna), a parasitic creature who inhabits the body of a high school teacher. Initially ruthless and strong, Ryoko begins to believe that living alongside humans might be key to her species’ long-term survival. The show explores the complex relationship between Ryoko and her human host as they navigate life caught between two worlds. Kutsuna described the role as the most demanding of her career.
According to series creator Yeon Sang-ho, Ryoko Tamiya is a compelling villain in the original Parasyte manga because her internal conflict about what it means to be alive adds significant depth. He explains that this elevates the story beyond a typical action comic for children. Yeon aimed to portray Ryoko’s ongoing battle with the parasites’ need to live alongside humans – and their fight for survival – showing how she evolves through hardship. He believes her pain is central to the core themes of Parasyte.
Yeon stated that the series offers fresh elements—from the story and visuals to the action and overall production—while still staying true to the original manga.
Multiple Parasyte Adaptations Have Been Made Over the Years
Yeon’s debut series, Parasyte: The Grey, was a critical success, earning a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 12 reviews. Decider praised the show, noting it features plenty of action while also highlighting the compelling story of the main character, Su-in, and her unique situation.
The new Netflix show isn’t the first time the Parasyte story has been adapted. It’s also been made into Japanese movies, an anime series, and a Korean drama. The anime, called Parasyte: The Maxim, has 24 episodes and you can currently watch it on Netflix and Crunchyroll. Some have praised it as a standout example of body horror anime.
Parasyte: The Grey is available to stream on Netflix. Parasyte: Tamiya is coming to Netflix in 2027.
2026-07-23 21:09