Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Live-Action ‘Look Back’ Trailer Released with US Theaters Plan

Few one-shot manga have made as significant an impact as Tatsuki Fujimoto’s ‘Look Back.’ First published on Shonen Jump+ in July 2021, it quickly became a sensation, amassing over 4 million views within just two days. The story garnered an Eisner Awards nomination, showcasing a different facet of the creator known for ‘Chainsaw Man.’

The narrative revolves around two small-town schoolgirls who are polar opposites. Fujino is self-assured and admired by her peers for her comics, while Kyomoto struggles with severe social anxiety as a recluse. Their mutual aspiration of becoming manga artists unites them. In 2024, the story was adapted into an animated film by Kiyotaka Oshiyama and Studio Durian, which GKIDS released in North America that October, earning accolades at the Annie Awards.

Now, ‘Look Back’ is evolving once more. GKIDS has released a new trailer for Hirokazu Kore-eda’s live-action adaptation, set to debut in select theaters starting December 30, with a nationwide rollout on January 15, 2027.

New trailer for the live-action adaptation of ‘LOOK BACK’. Directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda. https://t.co/TG4O6dZhPQ

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) October 20, 2026

The latest footage offers a heartfelt coming-of-age tale about two girls whose friendship flourishes through their passion for comics. It includes visuals directly inspired by the manga and draws from the 2024 anime, all presented through Kore-eda’s signature slow, naturalistic style. An earlier teaser in December 2025 did not reveal the cast or provide many clear glimpses of the characters, while a second trailer in June introduced the actors.

The cast features Aju Makita as Kyomoto, with Furi Nanase and Rokka Okada portraying the younger versions of Fujino and Kyomoto, respectively. Reports indicate that Nanase and Okada are real-life classmates, and Kore-eda remarked after auditions that they were the only two suitable for the roles.

This film marks the first live-action adaptation of any of Fujimoto’s works, helmed by a director with impressive credentials. Kore-eda, a Palme d’Or winner and Oscar nominee known for ‘Shoplifters,’ wrote, directed, and edited the film himself. Produced by K2 Pictures, it runs approximately 100 minutes, expanding Fujimoto’s short story into a feature-length drama.

The project originated when producer Daiju Koide approached Kore-eda with the concept. The director discovered the manga’s cover at a bookstore and felt compelled to adapt it after meeting Fujimoto. His approach aims to maintain the manga’s intimate, observational tone rather than reinvent it.

The film has already made its rounds on the festival circuit, premiering at the Venice Film Festival on September 6 and opening in Japan on September 11, with screenings for North American audiences at the Toronto International Film Festival. GKIDS acquired distribution rights for the United States, Canada, the UK, and Ireland in April.

For a filmmaker recently involved in the future-set drama ‘Sheep in a Box,’ which explores a couple raising a humanoid as their son, ‘Look Back’ signifies a return to the quiet, human-scale storytelling that established his reputation. The transition from the sci-fi narrative of his last film to a story centered on two girls at drawing desks marks a notable shift in pace.

Fans will likely draw comparisons between the two adaptations. The anime closely followed the manga’s storyline in a compact format, while the live-action film allows for more depth, relying on performances to express the characters’ inner lives. Both versions share a central theme of creative rivalry, friendship, and the challenges of moving forward.

The anime’s success provides the new adaptation with a built-in audience. The 2024 film earned $688,253 during its opening weekend in the United States, a strong performance for a limited release, and GKIDS is banking on Kore-eda’s reputation to enhance that appeal. With a staggered rollout through December and January, ‘Look Back’ is poised to attract both manga enthusiasts and followers of the director’s work.

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