GKids has acquired distribution rights for the US, Canada, the UK and Ireland to Hirokazu Kore-eda’s upcoming live-action feature adaptation of best-selling manga Look Back.
Kore-eda adapted the manga and directed and edited the live-action film version, also titled Look Back. The feature was shot last year in northern Japan and is in post-production.
Daiju Koide is producing for his K2 Pictures company, which will release the film in Japan this year. Theatrical releases in the US, Canada, the UK and Ireland will follow. Goodfellas is handling international sales outside Asia.
Tatsuki Fujimoto’s manga is a coming-of-age story about two girls becoming manga artists. First published in 2021, it has sold over 900,000 copies in Japan and 750,000 copies in 37 countries worldwide.
A 2024 animated feature adaptation, directed by Kiyotaka Oshiyama, was released theatrically in North America by GKids.
In a statement, Kore-eda, whose Shoplifters won the Palme D’Or in 2018, said that when he was approached to make a live-action version of Look Back “I was given the opportunity to meet Mr Fujimoto. Initially, I wanted to express my gratitude for bringing such a work into the world and for having the chance to encounter it by chance on my own. But on the way home, I remember deciding, ‘I have no choice but to do this.’”
GKids’ VP of distribution Chance Huskey added: “Hirokazu Kore-eda is a master storyteller whose work continues to define contemporary world cinema, while Tatsuki Fujimoto has emerged as one of the most impactful mangaka’s of the past decade. As GKids expands further into live action, we’re seeking out films and creators that reflect the artistry, emotional intelligence, and global perspective that have always been at the heart of GKids. Look Back is a perfect expression of that vision and we are honoured to be working with one of our favourite filmmakers taking on this incredible story.”
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