Palme d’Or-winning Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda is working on the live-action adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto’s best-selling manga “Look Back,” which is expected to be released at the end of 2026.
The project will be the first live-action adaptation of Fujimoto’s coming-of-age story about two young women pursuing their dreams of becoming manga artists. Director Kore-eda, whose credits include the Palme d’Or winner “Shoplifters,” Cannes competition films “Monster,” “The Broker,” and “And I Became a Father,” is currently working on the film’s post-production after filming in Nikaho City.
“On my way back from Kyoto to Tokyo, I was at a bookstore at Shinagawa Station and was drawn to the back of the person depicted on the cover of the book,” said director Kore-eda. “My first encounter with “Look Back” was when I picked it up without thinking. That night, I read it all at once. Although the genres of manga and movies are different, as creators of the same genre, I felt a desperate determination for this work. It became painfully clear to me that Mr. Fujimoto would not be able to move forward unless he created this work. For me, “Nobody Knows” was that kind of work.
The director was approached by producer Taiki Koide to make the story into a manga, and after meeting with director Fujimoto to express his gratitude for the work, he decided to make the story into a film.
Fujimoto, the author of the blockbuster manga “Chainsaw Man,” which has sold over 34 million copies worldwide, said, “If director Kore-eda wants to film “Look Back,” there’s nothing more I can say. I’m looking forward to it.”
“Look Back”, which was released on Shonen Jump+ in 2021, attracted a lot of attention upon its release, recording over 2.5 million views on the first day of release and selling 900,000 copies in Japan. Since then, the manga has been published in 37 countries and sold over 750,000 copies worldwide.
This property was made into an anime in 2024, directed by Kiyotaka Oshiyama and produced by Studio Dorian. The film topped the Japanese box office for two consecutive weeks, grossing approximately $12.8 million during its theatrical run before being streamed by Prime Video. The animated version was screened at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and other venues, and won multiple awards for best anime of the year from organizations such as the Japan Academy, the Japan Film Critics Association, and the Tokyo Anime Festival.
Director Koide is producing the live-action version under the umbrella of K2 Pictures, and plans to distribute it in Japan as well. Distribution agreements have already been signed in Taiwan and South Korea. Goodfellas will be responsible for international sales outside of Asia.
Director Kore-eda is also currently working on another notable work. “Sheep in the Box,” produced by Fuji Television, Gaga, Toho, and Aoi Productions, is scheduled to be released in early summer 2026. Goodfellas is handling sales for the project outside of Asia, and Gaga owns the rights to the project. As revealed by Variety, Neon has purchased the film for the US, UK, and Australia.
Founded in 2023, K2 Pictures is an independent production and distribution company that departs from the conservative model of Japan’s traditional “production committee” and emphasizes a fund-based approach. The company collaborates with notable creators such as Kore-eda, director Takashi Miike, and animation studio Mappa.
