Manga, anime, and K-thriller fans have come together for Netflix’s new offering in the body horror sci-fi genre: Parasyte: The Grey. The live-action spinoff of the hit manga series has rocked the streaming series’ trending charts, prompting viewers to ask: Will there be a second season?
While the answer to that is still up in the air, the show’s creators have given a major hint at what’s to come at the end of the six episodes. Hint: It revolves around the much-buzzed-about major cameo of Japanese actor Masaki Suda.
What is “Parasyte: The Grey” about?
For the unfamiliar, Parasyte: The Grey is set in the same universe as Hitoshi Iwaaki’s original manga series. In the source material, the protagonist is Shinichi Izumi, a Japanese high school student whose right arm is infected by a parasite named Migi. Meanwhile, the Korean spinoff centers on Jeong Su-in (Jeon So Nee), a young victim coexisting with its parasite; Seol Kang-woo (Koo Kyo Hwan), a gangster who tracks down parasites and teams up with Su-in; and Choi Jun-kyung (Lee Jung Hyun), the team leader of a parasite-eradicating task force called Team Grey.
Despite a favorable reception from the audience after its premiere, fans of the manga series expressed initial disappointment with the absence of the original characters. However, a cameo at the end of the series raised intrigue and excitement, with the possibility of their involvement in a season two follow-up.
Masaki Suda’s Cameo as Shinichi Izumi in “Parasyte: The Grey”
At the tail end of Parasyte: The Grey, an investigative journalist with expertise in parasites enters the headquarters of Team Grey. The stranger requests the presence of Captain Choi Jun-kyung, who is initially hesitant. When the conversation switches to Japanese, the journalist in question introduces himself as–you guessed it!–Shinichi Izumi, the original protagonist of the manga series. The camera then pans to Shinichi's hand, a major callback to his parasite companion, Migi.
Viewers may have noticed that the character is noticeably older than his original self, which is a deliberate choice by the Korean show’s creator. In a chat with Korean news outlet Xportsnews, director Yeon Sang Ho explained that the post-credit scene is set around eight years later from the source material and the main storyline.
Despite season two still being unconfirmed as of writing, the director mentioned that they’ve discussed potential future directions with Masaki, and that his character Shinichi will have a major involvement in a potential follow-up. Sang Ho also explained that the moment between him and Jun-kyung opened a broader narrative. According to him, actors like Lee Jung Hyun have even been handed a rough outline of the next season’s entire plot!
One thing’s for sure: We’re hoping for a season two to see what else is to come!
Parasyte: The Grey is streaming on Netflix.
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