Palme d’Or-winning Japanese filmmaker Kore-eda Hirokazu is in post on a live-action adaptation of Fujimoto Tatsuki’s bestselling manga “Look Back,” with the film scheduled for a late 2026 release.
The project marks the first live-action version of Fujimoto’s coming-of-age story about two young women pursuing their dreams of becoming manga artists. Kore-eda, whose credits include Palme d’Or winner “Shoplifters,” Cannes competition titles “Monster,” “Broker” and “Like Father, Like Son,” is currently in post-production on the feature after shooting in Nikaho City.
“On a return trip from Kyoto to Tokyo, I was drawn to a figure’s back on the cover of a book in a bookstore at Shinagawa Station,” Kore-eda said. “Without thinking, I picked a copy up – that was my first encounter with ‘Look Back.’ That night, I read it in one sitting. Though manga and film are different genres, as a fellow creator, I felt the desperate resolve behind this work. I could feel, almost painfully, that Mr. Fujimoto simply couldn’t move forward without creating this piece. For me, ‘Nobody Knows’ was that kind of work.”
The director was approached by producer Koide Daiju to adapt the manga and subsequently met with Fujimoto to express his appreciation for the work, which evolved into a commitment to bring the story to the screen.
Fujimoto, creator of the hit manga “Chainsaw Man,” which has sold over 34 million copies worldwide, said, “If director Kore-eda is going to film ‘Look Back,’ I have nothing more to say. I’m looking forward to it.”
Originally published on Shonen Jump+ in 2021, “Look Back” generated significant attention upon release, recording over 2.5 million views on its first day and selling 900,000 copies in Japan. The manga has since been published in 37 countries and sold more than 750,000 copies internationally.
The property received an animated adaptation in 2024, directed by Oshiyama Kiyotaka and produced by Studio Durian. That film topped the Japanese box office for two consecutive weeks and grossed some $12.8 million during its theatrical run before being acquired by Prime Video for streaming. The animated version screened at festivals including Annecy International Animation Film Festival and won multiple awards for best anime of the year from organizations including the Japan Academy, the Japan Film Critics Association and the Tokyo Anime Festival.
Koide is producing the live-action version under his K2 Pictures banner, which will also distribute the film in Japan. Distribution deals are already in place for Taiwan and South Korea. Goodfellas will handle international sales outside Asia.
Kore-eda also has another feature in the works. “Sheep in the Box,” produced by Fuji Television Network, Gaga, Toho Co. and Aoi Pro., is scheduled for an early summer 2026 release. Goodfellas is handling sales outside Asia for that project, while Gaga holds rights for Asian territories. As revealed by Variety, Neon has acquired the film for the U.S., U.K. and Australia.
K2 Pictures, launched in 2023, is an independent production and distribution company focused on moving away from Japan’s traditional “production committee” conservative model in favor of a fund-based approach. The company collaborates with notable creators including Kore-eda, Miike Takashi and animation studio Mappa.