‘Lollipop Chainsaw’ Live-Action Prequel Movie Is in Development

Lollipop Chainsaw is moving from game consoles to the big screen. A live-action feature based on the cult action franchise is now in development under license from Dragami Games, with the project introduced during Tokyo Game Show.

The movie is planned as a prequel set before the events of the original 2012 game. Its central figure remains Juliet Starling, the cheerleader and zombie hunter whose high school is overwhelmed by an undead outbreak. The film is being described as an R-rated action comedy, signaling that the production intends to keep the series’ mix of gore, irreverence and bright pop style.

An international production team takes shape

The early creative group includes producer Joe Teng of Nada Holdings, former ZDF Studios executive Robert Franke, Takafumi Yuki of Throne Inc., Kirk Shaw of Ambitious Entertainment and Patricio Rabuffetti of Non Stop TV. Dragami Games president Shohei Sato said the team understands the qualities that made the franchise distinctive while also looking for ways to build something new.

Important pieces are still missing from the announcement. No cast, director, release date or major studio partner has been publicly confirmed. IGN also noted that original game figures including Suda51 and James Gunn have not been announced as participants. Gunn worked on the first game’s story and dialogue before later becoming widely known for his film work.

The franchise is expanding again

The original Lollipop Chainsaw followed Juliet as she fought through San Romero High School with a chainsaw while trying to protect her friends, family and boyfriend Nick. The game developed a cult following and sold more than 1.5 million copies worldwide, according to the project announcement reported by Deadline.

Dragami has been reviving the property across several formats. The remastered Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP arrived in 2024, and the company has also announced a game sequel and an animated project. The film therefore joins a broader effort to turn the once-standalone title into a continuing entertainment franchise.

For now, the live-action movie remains at an early stage. Its prequel setup creates room to introduce Juliet and her zombie-hunting family to newcomers, but the unanswered questions around its filmmaker, cast and distributor will determine how quickly the adaptation can move from announcement to production.