Look Back (2026 film)
Upcoming 2026 coming-of-age drama film
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Look Back (Japanese: ルックバック, Hepburn: Rukku Bakku) is an upcoming Japanese coming-of-age drama film written, directed, and edited by Hirokazu Kore-eda. It is the second adaptation of the 2021 one-shot manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto, following the 2024 anime film adaptation.
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| Look Back | |
|---|---|
Teaser poster | |
| Katakana | ルックバック |
| Revised Hepburn | Rukku Bakku |
| Directed by | Hirokazu Kore-eda |
| Screenplay by | Hirokazu Kore-eda |
| Based on | Look Back by Tatsuki Fujimoto |
| Produced by | Daiju Koide |
| Cinematography | Senzo Ueno |
| Edited by | Hirokazu Kore-eda |
| Music by | Yuta Bandoh |
Production company | K2 Pictures |
| Distributed by | K2 Pictures |
Release date |
|
| Country | Japan |
| Language | Japanese |
The film will be released in Japan by K2 Pictures in 2026.
Plot
The story follows Ayumu Fujino (藤野 歩, Fujino Ayumu), a popular, outgoing student and Kyomoto (京本, Kyōmoto) a shut-in with severe social anxiety who bond over their shared love of creating manga. Kyomoto idolises Ayumu for her work drawing manga for their elementary school's newspaper, wishing to befriend her, however Ayumu initially resents Kyomoto's natural artistic talents. The pair grow close through their shared love, with the work following their bond as they grow into adulthood.
Production
Development
In December 2025, it was announced that Tatsuki Fujimoto's 2021 one-shot manga Look Back will be adapted into a live-action film, with Hirokazu Kore-eda serving as the director, screenwriter, and editor.[1] The film is the first live-action adaptation of Fujimoto's works and comes after the manga's 2024 anime film adaptation.[1] Kensei Nakayama is the assistant director, and Yuta Bandoh will compose the film's music.[2] Senzo Ueno is the film's cinematographer.[3] Daiju Koide will serve as the producer under K2 Pictures.[4]
Kore-eda discovered Look Back after seeing its cover at a bookstore at Shinagawa Station and being attracted to "a figure's back". He read the manga in one sitting and "felt the desperate resolve" behind it, adding: "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".[4] Koide approached Kore-eda with an offer to adapt the manga into a live-action film.[4] After receiving the offer and meeting Fujimoto, Kore-eda said that he "had no choice but to do it".[1]
Filming
Look Back was shot on 35mm film at Kore-eda's request, and was primarily filmed in Nikaho, Akita, with local residents cooperating in the production.[1][3] The winter and spring scenes were shot from February to May 2025; the summer scenes were filmed in July, and the autumn scenes were filmed in November.[3] The film was in post-production at the time it was officially announced.[1]
Marketing
Along with the film's announcement, two promotional posters photographed by Hideaki Hamada were released, featuring the two leads with their faces obscured in both and their actresses unidentified.[1][5] A teaser trailer was unveiled at the Jump Festa 2026 event in December 2025.[6]
Release
The film will be released in Japan by K2 Pictures in 2026. GKIDS will release the film in the US, Canada, the UK & Ireland, in late 2026.[7]
Goodfellas will handle international sales outside of Asia.[4]
