When the popular anime series, The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi (Suzumiya Haruhi no Yūutsu), was rumored to have a second season, fans and bloggers alike went into a frenzy. This quickly turned into a disappointment when it was announced that it was actually going to be reruns of the first season. However, speculation for a second season never seemed to diw down, due in part to people behind Haruhi keeping details about the re-airing so secretive and cryptic.

In a brilliant marketing strategy (at least in my opinon), the producers of the anime sneaked in the first of the new episodes in the guise of first season reruns. Within hours, 2ch in Japan exploded with hunderds of posts a minute excited about Haruhi's return. It didn't take long before anime news blogs like Sankaku Complex caught wind of it and started spreading the good news.

The new episode "Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody" was aired last Thursday, May 21, 2009. It is billed as episode 8 of the series re-airing. The series will have a total of 28 episodes and will be shown in chronological order with first and second season episodes alternating in the re-airing.

A subtitled episode of Haruhi Season 2 Episode 1 is available HERE.

Nagase Tomoya, lead vocalist of Johnny's Entertainment band TOKIO, will be starring as a superspy in a new upcoming drama next season.

Nagase is not only a popular J-Pop icon but also an accomplished actor who has starred in more than 30 Japanese dramas. Some of the dramas he's starred in include Ikebukuro West Gate Park, Mukodono, Tiger & Dragon and My Boss My Hero.

Nagase will play Yoroi Kyosuke, a swindler who is serving time in jail after being caught for more than a dozen cases of fraud. The government decides to use his skills by recruiting him to become a spy that will fight against terrorists. This premise actually reminds me of that Vin Diesel movie, XXX.

In typical spy fashion, he'll be equipped with a variety of gadgets including a ring that turns into a gun and a shoe that doubles as a cell phone. Get Smart anyone? He'll also be in disguises where he'll act as a pilot, doctor and a Korean actor resembling Bae Yong Joon. He'll even have a "Bond girl" character named Dorothy.

As you can see, this drama is going to spoof alot of spy movies and with Nagase's excellent comedic timing, this show sounds like it's going to be full of laughs.

NTV will start airing this series in July, putting it on the network's Saturday 9 P.M. time slot.

SOURCES:
DramaWiki
Tokyograph

The popular anime film, Blood: the Last Vampire, is set to release a live action movie in May. The film is being produced by Bill Kong, producer of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon & Hero, and to be directed by Chris Nahoon. The movie is to be primarily filmed in English rather than in Japanese just like the original animated film.

The movie will be set in 1948 Japan shortly after World War II during the American occupation of Japan. The plot follows the story of Saya, a half human-half vampire who is part of a covert government agency that hunts and destroys vampires and other demons. Korean actress Jun Ji Hyun, known for her wildly successful movie, My Sassy Girl, will be portraying the title character.

Japanese actress Koyuki will be playing Onigen, the high ranking vampire that Saya will fight. Koyuki is best remembered for role as Iwaya Sumire in Kimi wa Petto opposite Matsumoto Jun, and as Taka in the Tom Cruise blockbuster, The Last Samurai.

The live action movie will be the 6th installment to the franchise which includes the full length anime film, a one-volume manga, three Japanese light novels, a video game and an anime series, Blood+, which is set in an alternate universe.

The film is scheduled to premier in Japan under the title Last Blood on May 29, 2009 to be followed by a UK and France showing in June. Universal Pictures have reportedly gotten the rights for a US release but no release date has been confirmed as of yet.

SOURCES:
Wikipedia
Internet Movie Database (IMDB)

AnimeSuki.com Forums also list down the upcoming Anime for Summer 2009 with links to series descriptions.  You can read them HERE.