Chainsaw Man Creator’s Heartbreaking One-Shot Gets Live-Action Film
Tatsuki Fujimoto’s emotional manga Look Back is set for a live-action adaptation helmed by Hirokazu Kore-eda, arriving in 2026. The story follows two aspiring teen manga artists and was previously adapted as an animated film on Prime Video.
Tatsuki Fujimoto, the mind behind Chainsaw Man, is bringing another of his acclaimed works to the big screen. His one-shot manga Look Back is being adapted into a live-action film, with celebrated director Hirokazu Kore-eda at the helm. The announcement came from both Fujimoto’s editor Shihei Lin on Twitter and the latest chapter of Chainsaw Man in Shonen Jump. Kore-eda, known for films like Like Father, Like Son (2013) and Shoplifters (2018), will direct the adaptation, which is slated for release in 2026.
Look Back tells the moving story of two young manga creators, Fujino and Kyomoto. Both girls are driven by their dreams of making it big in the manga world, but their paths begin to diverge as they grow apart. Their lives take a dramatic turn after a devastating event, forever changing the course of their friendship and creative journeys.
From Page to Screen
The manga was previously adapted into an animated film, which streamed on Prime Video last year. Now, the live-action version promises to bring a new dimension to the story’s emotional depth. Early images from the upcoming movie show the two main characters walking through snow and working side by side on their manga, capturing the quiet intensity of their bond and ambition.
Fans have been eager to see how Kore-eda, with his reputation for nuanced storytelling, will interpret the delicate relationship at the heart of Look Back. The film is expected to explore the highs and lows of creative collaboration, as well as the personal struggles that come with chasing artistic dreams.
A Banner Year for Fujimoto’s Fans
The past year has been a remarkable one for those who follow Fujimoto’s work. In addition to the animated Look Back, audiences have enjoyed Chainsaw Man: The Movie – Reze Arc in theaters. There’s also been an animated anthology, 17-26, which adapts Fujimoto’s earlier stories written before Chainsaw Man.
The anime scene overall is thriving, with recent seasons bringing new installments of Fire Force, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. For those who haven’t yet experienced Look Back, it’s a must-watch, especially for fans of emotionally charged storytelling. And for anyone looking to dive deeper into the Chainsaw Man universe, there are guides available on the movie’s ending and where to pick up the manga after watching the film.