We’ve seen a surge in live-action adaptations of popular anime like One Piece and Kingdom, and that trend is continuing. Now, in an unexpected move, a well-known manga series is skipping the anime format altogether and going directly into live-action. Last year, publisher Kodansha announced plans to partner with acclaimed director Chloé Zhao to bring some of its biggest titles to Hollywood. As part of this initiative, they’re now developing a live-action version of a major manga story – one that’s actually been adapted into live-action films before.
Originally created by Satoru Hiura and first published in 2004, Hotaru’s Way gained a dedicated following and continued with sequels and spin-offs until 2009. Surprisingly, despite its popularity, the series never received an animated adaptation. Instead, it launched directly into live-action with a television series in 2007, followed by a sequel series in 2010 and a film in 2012. Now, according to Deadline, Unapologetic Projects is bringing Hotaru’s Way to North America with a brand new live-action television series. Producers on the project include Paige Hooper, Motoko Kimura, and Kate Kugler, though a release date hasn’t been announced yet.
Hotaru’s Way is The Way
Although it’s still unclear when the live-action series will be released, producer Paige Hooper shared that this project is a stepping stone for future live-action adaptations. She expressed excitement about the series, stating it’s the first of several in development, and part of a larger plan for creating more content. The team is confident in their ability to deliver successful projects and share them with viewers.
Kodansha announced last year that it was developing new TV shows and movies for Western audiences based on its popular stories. Yoshinobu Noma, Kodansha’s CEO, explained that the company is always looking for ways to share Japanese storytelling with the world, staying true to their mission of ‘Inspire Impossible Stories.’ He described the creation of Kodansha Studios as a major step forward, strengthening the connection between Japanese publishing and Hollywood. The studio will focus on building direct collaborations with top artists, producers, and studios around the globe.
If you haven’t heard of Hotaru’s Way, it’s a series about a 27-year-old woman who starts dating a younger colleague. It’s not an action-packed story, but a realistic and charming slice-of-life series that mixes humor and romance in a unique way. You can read the first chapter on Kodansha’s website here.
Via Deadline
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2026-06-02 20:19