After Death Note and One Piece, Netflix is again adapting a Japanese property into live-action, this time with Persona. According to a Variety report, the project is in development with Christopher Monfette as writer, showrunner, and one of several executive producers.

Monfette has credits on TV series 9-1-1 and Star Trek: Picard. The only confirmed Japanese executive producer so far is Toru Nakahara, who serves as Sega’s contact for Hollywood initiatives, including projects like the Sonic the Hedgehog films. The detail generating the most discussion is that seven of the eight listed executive producers are not Japanese, suggesting the series likely won’t be set in Japan, despite the Persona games taking place there.

The article raises the question: Could moving the setting away from the Japanese high school atmosphere affect how fans connect with the story and characters? Persona’s structure, blending everyday life in school settings with fantastical and psychedelic elements, could translate relatively well to live-action if the right balance is maintained, allowing visual effects to focus on the games’ most distinctive supernatural sequences.

It’s still unclear which specific Persona entry Netflix will adapt. Each numbered Persona title is a standalone story with its own characters and plots, though they share core mechanics and themes. Persona 5 originally launched in 2016, an updated version of Persona 4 is scheduled for 2027, and Persona 6 was announced in development last month. The report notes that producing a live-action series alongside a new main game release could split audience attention, making an existing title a more practical choice for coordinated promotion.

The article also compares with Netflix’s previous adaptations: setting Death Note outside Japan was poorly received by fans of the original, while the live-action One Piece series received a warmer reception than expected. According to the report, Persona’s adaptation success may depend on how much of its distinct identity and tone it preserves, even if the setting changes.

About Persona

Persona is a role-playing video game franchise developed by Atlus, owned by Sega, known for combining the daily lives of Japanese students with battles against supernatural entities through psychological manifestations called “Personas.” The series has become one of the most influential Japanese RPG franchises abroad due to its artistic direction, soundtrack, and narrative focused on themes of identity and personal growth. Persona 5, the most recent numbered entry, is considered one of the franchise’s international popularity peaks.

Do you think a Persona adaptation can work outside its Japanese setting, or do you feel the school environment and culture are an inseparable part of what makes the franchise special?