Palme d'Or-winning director Kore-eda Hirokazu is in post-production on the first live-action adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto's bestselling manga 'Look Back,' set for a late 2026 release. The coming-of-age story follows two young women pursuing their dreams of becoming manga artists. The project follows a successful 2024 animated version of the same property.
Project Overview
Kore-eda Hirokazu, known for films like 'Shoplifters,' 'Monster,' and 'Broker,' is adapting Fujimoto Tatsuki's 'Look Back' into live-action. The manga, published on Shonen Jump+ in 2021, centers on the aspirations of two aspiring manga artists. It garnered over 2.5 million views on its first day and has sold 900,000 copies in Japan, plus more than 750,000 internationally across 37 countries. Fujimoto is also the creator of 'Chainsaw Man,' which has sold over 34 million copies worldwide.
The film was shot in Nikaho City and is currently in post-production. Producer Daiju Koide is handling the project under his K2 Pictures banner, which will distribute in Japan. Distribution deals are secured for Taiwan and South Korea, with Goodfellas managing international sales outside Asia.
Director's Inspiration
Kore-eda discovered the manga during a trip from Kyoto to Tokyo. '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,' he 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.'
Fujimoto expressed enthusiasm: 'If director Kore-eda is going to film ‘Look Back,’ I have nothing more to say. I’m looking forward to it.'
Previous Adaptation
An animated version directed by Kiyotaka Oshiyama and produced by Studio Durian premiered in 2024. It topped the Japanese box office for two weeks, grossing $12.8 million, and won awards from the Japan Academy, Japan Film Critics Association, and Tokyo Anime Festival. The film later streamed on Prime Video after festival screenings, including Annecy International Animation Film Festival.