Hirokazu Koreeda to Direct Live-Action 'Look Back' in 2026: Why This is Tatsuki Fujimoto's Ultimate Dream Team
- Abdul Bahelil
- Dec 2
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 3
2025 has been Tatsuki Fujimoto's year. From Chainsawman Reze Arc to Tatsuki Fujimoto 17-26, Fujimoto's work has dominated an entire industry this past year. Fortunetly for us, this incredible run that he's on wont be slowing down any time soon as Mr. Still Walking himself, Hirokazu Korreeda, is taking on the creator of Chainsaw Man's most human story.
Here’s why the Hirokazu Koreeda and Tatsuki Fujimoto collaboration for the live-action Look Back is a dream come true:
Hirokazu Koreeda, known globally for his deeply empathetic, humanist dramas like Shoplifters and Nobody Knows, is slated to direct the live-action adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto's seminal one-shot manga, Look Back. Slated for a 2026 release, this monumental creative pairing is not just a film announcement—it's a cultural collision that promises to deliver a masterclass in emotional storytelling(fingers crossed).
For fans of both Japanese cinema and anime/manga, this is the perfect synthesis. The unique tragedy and tender portrayal of the creative struggle found in Look Back will now be filtered through the lens of one of cinema's most humanistic directors. Get ready for a film that will undoubtedly be on every critic's year-end list.
The Director: Hirokazu Koreeda – The Master of the Human Condition
If you’re unfamiliar with Koreeda’s work, prepare to have your heart quietly broken and expertly mended. The director is a virtuoso in depicting the nuances of human relationships, family, loss, and unconventional bonds.
Palme d'Or Winner: He won the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival for Shoplifters (2018), a poignant drama about a found family on the margins of society.
Signature Style: His films, like Still Walking and Broker, are praised for their naturalistic performances, especially from children, and their ability to tackle profound grief and moral ambiguity with stunning gentleness.
The Perfect Fit: Look Back is, at its core, a story about the complex relationship between two young artists, Fujino and Kyomoto, and how their shared passion for manga is challenged by rivalry, sacrifice, and unimaginable tragedy. Koreeda's delicate touch is precisely what this raw, emotional narrative needs to translate it from page to screen without losing its soul.
The Source Material: Tatsuki Fujimoto's Emotional Magnum Opus
Tatsuki Fujimoto is the modern manga sensation behind the global, chaotic hits Fire Punch and the blockbuster anime Chainsaw Man. But for many connoisseurs, his 140-page one-shot, Look Back, remains his most deeply felt and personal work.
What is Look Back About? The story follows Ayumu Fujino and Kyomoto, two aspiring manga artists who form an unlikely partnership in their school newspaper. Their competitive, yet deeply supportive, friendship fuels their creative ambition until a sudden, shocking act of violence changes everything.
Themes of Art and Loss: The manga is a raw exploration of the joy and agony of creation, the burden of talent, and the paralyzing guilt that follows tragedy. Fujimoto, in many ways, poured his own anxieties about being an artist into this single, powerful narrative.
Viral Appeal: The manga was an instant viral hit upon its release in 2021, and the 2024 anime film adaptation only cemented its status as a contemporary classic. Its exploration of creator anxiety and the enduring power of art strikes a universal chord.
On a personal level, Koreeda is undoubtedly my all-time favorite director. He has profoundly changed my perspective on cinema and storytelling. At the same time, Look Back is likely one of my favorite one-shots from a mangaka in recent times. This collaboration is exactly what I had hoped for. Fans of Look Back can rest assured that your beloved story is in excellent hands.
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