PARIS, April 25 -- Attracting global audiences with a live-action adaptation of a classic Japanese manga can be tough, and even more so when the protagonist is a notorious philanderer.

That was the problem Japanese actor Ryohei Suzuki faced in rendering the elite sniper in the 1980s manga hit City Hunter palatable for the 2020s in Netflix's new live-action film that premieres today.

Set in Tokyo's seedy underbelly, City Hunter revolves around assassin and detective Ryo Saeba, who is tasked with "sweeping" criminals off the streets.

The brainchild of manga author Tsukasa Hojo, City Hunter has sold more than 50 million copies over the years, inspiring live-action adaptations globally including a 1993 Hong Kong thriller starring Jackie Ch...