BOLD STATEMENT: A renowned filmmaker is turning a beloved manga into a live-action film, with high anticipation and potential for both acclaim and controversy.
Kore-eda Hirokazu, the Palme d’Or–winning Japanese director behind titles like Shoplifters, is in post-production on a live-action adaptation of Fujimoto Tatsuki’s bestselling manga Look Back. The project aims for a late-2026 release.
This film marks Look Back’s first transition to live-action. The coming-of-age story follows two young women chasing their dreams of becoming manga artists. Kore-eda, whose filmography includes Monster, Broker, Like Father, Like Son, and the acclaimed Shoplifters, completed principal photography in Nikaho City and is now finishing post-production.
Kore-eda described a spontaneous encounter that inspired the project: while returning from Kyoto to Tokyo, a book’s back cover at Shinagawa Station drew his attention. He picked up Look Back and devoured it in a single night, feeling a deep, almost painful resolve in Fujimoto’s work. He compared the sense of urgency in Look Back to the intensity he felt while working on Nobody Knows, reinforcing his belief in adapting it for the screen.
Producer Koide Daiju approached Kore-eda about the adaptation, and after meeting Fujimoto to convey his admiration, the collaboration progressed into a formal commitment to bring the story to life.
Fujimoto, best known for Chainsaw Man, which has sold over 34 million copies worldwide, responded warmly: if Kore-eda is directing Look Back, he has nothing more to say beyond looking forward to the project.
Look Back originally appeared on Shonen Jump+ in 2021, rapidly capturing attention with over 2.5 million views on its release day and selling 900,000 copies in Japan. It has since been published in 37 countries and surpassed 750,000 copies sold internationally.
An animated adaptation released in 2024, directed by Oshiyama Kiyotaka and produced by Studio Durian, topped the Japanese box office for two weeks and earned around $12.8 million before Prime Video acquired streaming rights. The film appeared at international festivals such as Annecy and earned multiple awards from the Japan Academy, the Japan Film Critics Association, and the Tokyo Anime Festival.
The live-action project is produced by Koide under the K2 Pictures banner, which will also handle domestic distribution. International distribution deals are already in place for Taiwan and South Korea, with Goodfellas handling sales outside Asia.
Kore-eda also has Sheep in the Box in development, produced by Fuji Television Network, Gaga, Toho Co., and Aoi Pro., slated for an early summer 2026 release. Goodfellas will manage sales outside Asia, while Gaga retains Asian rights. Neon has secured U.S., U.K., and Australia rights for the film. K2 Pictures, founded in 2023, advocates a fund-based production model to move beyond Japan’s traditional production committee system, collaborating with creators including Kore-eda, Takashi Miike, and animation studio Mappa.
