The Apothecary Diaries is heading for the big screen.
The popular historical fantasy manga has inspired a live-action drama series and has already cast Maomao. Pacific Rim actress Mana Ashida is set to portray the protagonist. Plastic Beauty‘s Yuki Saito will direct and BOCCHI THE ROCK!‘s Ericka Yoshida will write the scripts. Toho and Amazon MGM Studios will co-produce the live-action that is slated to premiere in 2028. Although the announcement only showed the lower half of the actor’s face where she smiles playfully, the casting announcement has already made fans excited for the upcoming series.
This isn’t the first time The Apothecary Diaries was adapted into a different format. Hyuganatsu first published the light novel on Shosetsuka ni Naro in October 2021 before it was acquired and published under Shufunotomo’s imprint Ray Books. The series was rereleased as a light novel under Shufunotomo’s other imprint Hero Bunko. The Apothecary Diaries was adapted into a manga with Nekokurage illustrating. A second manga adaptation was released in August 2017, titled The Apothecary Diaries: Maomao’s Notes on the Inner Palace.
OLM and Toho Animation Studio produced the anime adaptation. Season 1 released on Oct. 21, 2023 with a special three-episode premiere, Aoi Yūki voicing Maomao and and Takeo Ōtsuka voicing Jinshi. Season 2 aired from January to July 2025. A third season is slated to air in split cours in October 2026 and April 2027.
J-Novel Club describes The Apothecary Diaries as below:
In the East is a land ruled by an emperor, whose consorts and serving women live in a sprawling complex known as the hougong, the rear palace. Maomao, an unassuming girl raised in an unassuming town by her apothecary father, never imagined the rear palace would have anything to do with her—until she was kidnapped and sold into service there. Though she looks ordinary, Maomao has a quick wit, a sharp mind, and an extensive knowledge of medicine. That’s her secret, until she encounters a resident of the palace at least as perceptive as she is: the head eunuch, Jinshi. He sees through Maomao’s façade and makes her a lady-in-waiting to none other than the Emperor’s favorite consort… so she can taste the lady’s food for poison! At her lady’s side, Maomao starts to learn about everything that goes on in the rear palace—not all of it seemly. Can she ever lead a quiet life, or will her powers of deduction and insatiable curiosity bring her ever more adventures, and ever more dangers?
J-Novel Club holds the digital license while Square Enix has the print license. The Apothecary Diaries anime can be streamed on Crunchyroll. The live-action will stream worldwide in 2028.
Source: X, formerly known as Twitter
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