It’s been announced that XXXHOLiC will be getting a musical theatre adaptation.

The title is Engekichouitan XXXHOLiC (XXXHOLiC Theatrical Style) and it’s scheduled to open in this Fall in Japan.

The planning is by CLAMP’s Nanase Ohkawa and theatre producer Matsuda Makoto, known as the pioneer of 2.5D musicals.

Direction will be by Fumiya Matsuzaki and the script will be written by Masafumi Hata, the same duo in charge of the two-part Banana Fish stage play in June.

The only two cast members announced so far are Motohiro Ota, who will be playing Yuuko Ichihara, and Shougo Sakamoto, who will be playing Watanuki Kimihiro. One interesting detail is that the actor who will be playing Yuuko is a man.

Engekichouitan XXXHOLiC

Opening
Fall 2021 (Japan)

Planning
Nanase Ohkawa
Matsuda Makoto

Original Work
CLAMP『XXXHOLiC』(Kodansha)

Director
Fumiya Matsuzaki

Script
Masafumi Hata

Cast
Yuuko Ichihara: Motohiro Ota
Watanuki Kimihiro: Shougo Sakamoto
Others

Cooperation
Japan 2.5-Dimensional Musical Association

Organizer
Nelke Planning

Official website: https://engeki-xxxholic.com
Official twitter: https://twitter.com/engeki_xxxHOLiC (＠engeki_xxxHOLiC)

Good news! This project seems to be in really good hands. The staff is involved in several good quality stage play adaptations, and it’s really good to know that Nanase Ohkawa is in the planning committee. That first key visual looks absolutely amazing.

I was surprised to learn that the actor playing Yuuko is a man. I am not sure yet how I feel about a man taking a powerful female role, but I can also see this working really well.

XXXHOLiC continues to be the most versatile CLAMP work, having been adapted to multiple media formats: movie, TV anime, OAD, video-game, stage reading drama and now stage play.

This also indicates that CLAMP might be planning to resume XXXHOLiC Rei in the near future. Mutual promotion between the original work and the adaptation always works well.

Last but not least: HAPPY CLAMP DAY, everyone!