Palme D’Or Winner Kore-eda Has Directed A Live-Action Adaptation Of Tatsuki Fujimoto Manga ‘Look Back’, Teaser Posters Revealed

Palme d’Or winner Hirokazu Kore-eda (Shoplifters) is in post-production on the first live-action adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto’s manga Look Back, with the film set for a late 2026 release.

The coming-of-age story follows two girls passionately pursuing their dreams of becoming manga artists. Published on Shonen Jump+ in 2021, the manga sparked buzz upon its release in Japan, recording 2.5 million views on its first day and selling a total of 900,000 copies. It was later published in 37 countries worldwide and sold more than 750,000 copies internationally.

Kore-eda Hirokazu’s Look Back was shot quietly in Nikaho City and is currently in post-production. Daiju Koide is producing under K2 Pictures banner, who will also distribute the film in Japan. The film has secured distribution in Taiwan and South Korea. Goodfellas is handling international sales outside Asia. Two teaser visuals have been unveiled below.

Kore-eda said: “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. 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”.

Kore-eda received an offer from producer Daiju Koide to adapt Look Back into a live-action film and was given the opportunity to meet the original author.

Fujimoto added: “If director Kore-eda is going to film Look Back, I have nothing more to say. I’m looking forward to it!”.

Fujimoto is known for his unique style and his singular vengeance stories such as Fire Punch and Chainsaw Man which have sold more than 34 million copies worldwide. The current animation adaptation Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc has earned $173M at the worldwide box-office.

In 2024, Look Back was also adapted into a theatrical animated film directed by Kiyotaka Oshiyama and produced by Studio Durian. The film became a hit, holding the number one position at the Japanese box office for two consecutive weeks and grossing more than $12.8M during its theatrical run. It was later sold worldwide to Prime Video for exclusive streaming rights.

Acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Kore-eda also has another feature underway. Sheep In The box, produced by Fuji Television Network, Gaga, Toho Co., Ltd. and Aoi Pro., is set for an early summer 2026 release. Goodfellas is handling sales outside Asia, while Gaga holds the rights for Asian territories.