Prime Video has announced a live-action series adaptation of The Apothecary Diaries. The Prime Original title will make its debut in 2028 and will be streamed internationally.
Per Japanese media, Mana Ashita (Niko Urushizaki in the live-action Cells at Work! movie) is playing the poison-loving protagonist of the story. Yuki Saito (Sora no Minato no Arigato, Kimi ga Otoshita Aozora) is directing the adaptation with Erika Yoshida (Bocchi the Rock! and Maebashi Witches series composer) as scriptwriter.
The Apothecary Diaries began as a web novel by Natsu Hyuga on Shosetsuka ni Naro in 2011, before getting a light novel series (published under the Hero Bunko label) illustrated by Toko Shino. Square Enix describes the synopsis as such:
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?
A TV anime adaptation began airing in 2023 and was followed by a second season in 2025. A split-cour third season is set to begin airing on October 2, while an anime movie will be released on December 11.
The light novel series has also inspired two manga adaptations, one published by Square Enix and the other by Shogakukan, and a manga spin-off.
Sources: @PrimeVideo_JP, Eiga Natalie
