GANTZ, a new sci-fi film from Japan, is making its international world premiere at 325 U.S. movie theaters (including three in New York City) in an exclusive one-night event on Thursday, Jan. 20. Based on the long-running manga and anime series originally created by Hiroya Oku, GANTZ stars two of Japan’s biggest leading actors, Kazunari Ninomiya (Letters from Iwo Jima) and Kenichi Matsuyama (Death Note, Detroit Metal City), who will both participate in an special live interview exclusive to this event.

Presented by NCM Fathom and New People, in association with Dark Horse Comics, GANTZ tells the story of childhood friends Kei Kurono and Masaru Kato, who are accidentally killed while trying to save another man’s life. Rather than find themselves in the hereafter, however, they awaken in a strange apartment in which they find a mysterious black orb they come to know as “GANTZ.” Along with similar abductees, they are provided with equipment and weaponry and manipulated into playing a kind of game in which they are sent back out to the greater world to do battle with alien beings, all while never quite knowing whether this game is an illusion or their new reality.

Ninomiya and Matsuyama are two of Japan’s biggest stars. Ninomiya, best known in America for his role in Clint Eastwood’s 2006 Best Picture Academy Award nominee Letters from Iwo Jima, is both an actor and a singer. He is world-renowned as a member of the Japanese boy band “Arashi,” which topped Japan’s music charts in 2009 with the three best-selling singles. Matsuyama has been one of the most sought-after actors in Japanese film and has won several awards, including Japanese Academy Awards Best New Actor (2007) and Most Popular Actor (2009). Matsuyama is recognized for his part as L in Death Note (2006), Death Note II: the Last Name (2006) and Death Note: L, change the WorLd (2008), live-action films also based on hit manga and anime series.

GANTZwill be screened in an English dubbed edition through NCM’s exclusive Digital Broadcast Network. Tickets are available at participating theater box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com. See the preceding link for participating theaters nationwide.

GANTZ premieres in New York City Thursday, Jan. 20 at 8:00 p.m. at AMC Empire 25 (234 West 42nd Street), Regal Union Square Stadium 14 (850 Broadway), and Clearview First and 62nd (400 East 62nd Street) Cinemas. Tickets are $10. For other U.S. locations and to buy tickets, visit www.fathomevents.com/originals/event/gantz.aspx.

Attending this film? Add a comment below.