Live-Action Film ‘Oshi no Ko’ Announced Release Date with Teaser

The drama series adaptation of ‘Oshi no Ko’, a joint project between Amazon and Toei, has set its release date for November 28 (Thursday), with the movie following on December 20 (Friday).

Based on the manga by Akasaka Aka and Mengo Yokoyari, which began serialization in “Weekly Young Jump” in 2020, the story follows twins Aqua and Ruby, reincarnated as the legendary idol Ai’s “oshi no ko” (favorite children), as they enter the entertainment industry. The narrative explores various aspects of the entertainment world while Aqua delves into the truth behind Ai’s death, coinciding with the announcement of the manga’s “final chapter” and the upcoming second season of the anime slated to air from July.

In the live-action adaptation, Asuka Saito (formerly of Nogizaka46) plays Ai, Kaon Sakurai portrays Aqua, and Nagisa Saito (from =LOVE) appears as Ruby. Other cast members include Nanoka Hara as Kana Arima, who reunites with Ruby in “B-Komachi,” Ano as MEM-cho, and Mizuki Kajima as Akane Kurokawa, a member of the theater group “Lalalai” who harbors feelings for Aqua.

Along with the release of information, a special news release and a teaser visual were also unveiled. The special video begins with a live performance scene of the first “B-Komachi” standing on a stage surrounded by countless psyllium lights,It also shows Aqua, Akane, and others surviving in the “show business” where desires and passions are intertwined, Ruby, Kana, and Memcho reuniting “B-Komachi,” and Ai suddenly being stabbed by someone.
The film ends with Aqua looking back meaningfully at the audience on the new “B-Komachi” stage, and a voiceover saying, “This story is a fiction”.

Furthermore, the production staff has also been announced. The movie will be directed by Smith, known for directing numerous popular music videos of artists and dramas such as ‘I Want to Hold Aono-kun so Badly I Could Die (Aono-kun ni Sawaritai kara Shinitai)’ and ‘Yakuza Lover (Koi to Dangan).’ Meanwhile, the drama will be directed by the young talents Smith and Hana Matsuno, who made their debut in 2015 with the feature film ‘A Midsummer Dream’ at the youngest age of 16, which was officially selected for the Forecast section of the Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival, and have also worked on films like ‘The End of the Pale Hour.’

The screenplay will be handled by Aya Koagawa, who worked on the 2020 film ‘Tokyo Love Story’ and the drama series ‘Laid-Back Camp,’ and the music will be provided by the piano trio fox capture plan, which handled the opening theme for the 2023 “Kohaku Uta Gassen” and has been involved in music production for dramas and movies.

Upon the release of this information, a comment from Toei producer Ryusuke Igata was also made public.

From the esteemed creators Akasaka-sensei and Yokoyari-sensei, we have been entrusted with the precious task of bringing their original work to life in live-action. We are about to mark nearly two years on this journey. Each day, we confront our beloved “Oshi no Ko” head-on. Alongside the exhilaration of creation, there exists a daunting pressure that is truly indelible. There are moments when we fantasize about returning to that first day we read the original work as fans of “Oshi no Ko.” We still do not know how much our work will resonate with the world. We are fully committed to reaching as many people as possible. We sincerely hope it resonates in your hearts. Finally, to all the cherished cast, crew, and everyone involved who has gathered together: Amidst great anxiety and pressure, we express our utmost gratitude for walking this path with us.

Planning and production: Ryusuke Imoto (Toei)