Hirokazu Kore-eda’s ‘Look Back’ Acquired by Gkids for North America, U.K. and Ireland Distribution

Gkids has acquired the U.S., Canadian, U.K. and Ireland distribution rights to Hirokazu Kore-eda’s new feature “Look Back.”

Adapted by Kore-eda, the project marks the first live-action version of Fujimoto Tatsuki’s coming-of-age story about two young women pursuing their dreams of becoming manga artists. Kore-eda is also directing and editing the film.

The film was shot in Nikaho City in northern Japan and is currently in post-production. Daiju Koide is producing under his own K2 Pictures banner, which will distribute the film in Japan. The film is set for a 2026 theatrical release in Japan, with a U.S., Canada, U.K. and Ireland theatrical release to follow.

Kore-eda said he was inspired to tell the story on a return trip from Kyoto to Tokyo. “I was drawn to a figure’s back on the cover of a book in a bookstore at Shinagawa Station. Without thinking,…