{"rewrite":{"id":"r_002584b99ae61c155707813e","clusterId":"c_d934a82311bcdf6f3f9154a0","slug":"manga-wandance-gets-live-action-film-starring-team-s-jo","model":"deepseek-v4-flash","headline":"Manga Wandance Gets Live-Action Film Starring \u0026TEAM's JO","summary":"A live-action film adaptation of Coffee's manga \"Wandance\" has been announced, with JO of the nine-member boy group \u0026TEAM starring as protagonist Kabo (Kaboku Kotani). The film is set for a nationwide release on November 27, 2026. The story follows Kabo, a young man who struggles with a stutter and suppresses his feelings to avoid standing out, until he meets Hikari Wanda, who dances freely without caring what others think. Inspired by her, Kabo enters the world of dance as a novice. The manga, serialized in Monthly Afternoon, has 15 volumes published and received a TV anime adaptation in 2025. JO makes his film debut and first lead role with this project. He commented that he initially felt shock rather than joy at the casting, but after reading the original work he found similarities between himself and Kabo. The film is directed by Naoya Kusaba, known for \"Yukiko a.k.a.,\" with a script by Keiichi Kobayashi. Dance supervision is handled by Charisma Kantaro, founder of the professional dance league D.LEAGUE. Two character visuals and a character video have been released. Filming took place in winter 2025, and the film is currently in post-production. The production and distribution is handled by Happinet Phantom Studios.","whyItMatters":"The live-action adaptation of Wandance, which already had a 2025 anime, gives JO his first film lead role and marks a notable crossover between K-pop idol work and Japanese manga filmmaking, with the dance sequences supervised by a D.LEAGUE founder.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003eDirector Naoya Kusaba, known for the award-winning short \u0026#34;Super Minkolinista\u0026#34; and the feature \u0026#34;Yukiko a.k.a.,\u0026#34; said JO\u0026#39;s performance was so convincing that at the climax, \u0026#34;JO\u0026#39;s eyes were filled with tears from the sense of accomplishment of having given his all, and it overlapped with Kabo, making me unable to stop crying. It was a moment where fiction and reality mixed.\u0026#34;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJO described the role as his first full-fledged solo activity since debuting with \u0026amp;TEAM. \u0026#34;I was constantly anxious and nervous about having to do it alone, but I conducted a lot of research and practice with the sole desire to deliver a good work,\u0026#34; he said. \u0026#34;Through that process, I feel that both my dance and my heart have grown significantly.\u0026#34;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDance supervisor Charisma Kantaro, who founded the professional dance league D.LEAGUE and the world\u0026#39;s largest dance battle event DANCEALIVE, said he assigned a single dancer to work with JO and was particular about small details for every cast member. \u0026#34;I think he awakened splendidly,\u0026#34; Kantaro said. \u0026#34;JO became possessed by Kabo, to the point where it\u0026#39;s unclear whether the work came first or the film came first - he is Kabo itself.\u0026#34;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOriginal author Coffee said she did not ask for a faithful reproduction. \u0026#34;I hope they create something new with expression methods suited to each medium and a script that fits the runtime,\u0026#34; she said. She noted that each cast member had a dancer as a supervisor, and that those dancers are \u0026#34;incredibly top-notch.\u0026#34;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe manga has surpassed 1.1 million copies in cumulative print. The 2025 TV anime was produced by Madhouse and Cyclone Graphics.\u003c/p\u003e","blueskyPost":"JO of \u0026TEAM makes his film debut as Kabo in the live-action Wandance. Director Kusaba said JO's tears of accomplishment after a climactic dance scene overlapped with the character, creating a moment where fiction and reality blended.","twitterPost":"Wandance live-action film announced, starring \u0026TEAM's JO as Kabo. Opens November 27. Dance supervision by Charisma Kantaro, founder of D.LEAGUE. Character visuals and video released.","threadsPost":null,"newsletterBlurb":"Coffee's manga Wandance is getting a live-action film starring JO of \u0026TEAM as the stuttering protagonist Kabo who finds freedom in dance. The film opens November 27, 2026, with dance supervision by D.LEAGUE founder Charisma Kantaro.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"Eiga Natalie\",\"url\":\"https://natalie.mu/eiga/news/677156\",\"title\":\"Manga \\\"Wandance\\\" Gets Live-Action Film Starring \\u0026TEAM's JO, Depicts Protagonist Who Discovers and Becomes Passionate About Dance\"},{\"source\":\"Comic Natalie\",\"url\":\"https://natalie.mu/comic/news/677194\",\"title\":\"Coffee's \\\"Wandance\\\" Gets Live-Action Film; \\u0026TEAM's JO Plays Kabo, Opens November 27\"},{\"source\":\"Cinema Today\",\"url\":\"https://www.cinematoday.jp/news/N0155431\",\"title\":\"\\\"Wandance\\\" Gets Live-Action Film; \\u0026TEAM's JO Makes Film Debut as Lead: \\\"My Dance and Heart Have Grown Greatly\\\"\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":14704,"outputTokens":1467,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1782080856,"createdAt":"2026-06-21T22:17:41.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-06-21T22:21:33.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-06-21T22:21:33.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_d934a82311bcdf6f3f9154a0","canonicalTitle":"珈琲「ワンダンス」実写映画化、カボ役は\u0026TEAMのJO　11月27日に公開","representativeArticleId":"a_f5e3991d11df7c843702523a","sourceCount":4,"writtenSourceCount":3,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":false,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[],\"manga_titles\":[\"Wandance\"],\"work_titles\":[],\"studios\":[],\"people\":[\"Coffee\",\"JO\"],\"type\":\"announcement\",\"domain\":\"manga\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"published","firstSeenAt":"2026-06-21T22:00:00.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-06-22T00:43:31.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-06-22T01:16:02.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"Anime News Network","url":"https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2026-06-21/live-action-wandance-film-teaser-reveals-lead-actor-staff-november-27-opening/.238774","title":"News\nLive-Action Wandance Film's Teaser Reveals Lead Actor, Staff, November 27 Opening"},{"source":"Eiga Natalie","url":"https://natalie.mu/eiga/news/677156","title":"\u0026TEAMのJO主演でマンガ「ワンダンス」実写映画化、ダンスに出会い熱中する主人公描く"},{"source":"Comic Natalie","url":"https://natalie.mu/comic/news/677194","title":"珈琲「ワンダンス」実写映画化、カボ役は\u0026TEAMのJO　11月27日に公開"},{"source":"Cinema Today","url":"https://www.cinematoday.jp/news/N0155431","title":"「ワンダンス」実写映画化　\u0026TEAM・JOが映画初主演「ダンスも心も大きく成長」"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":[],"manga_titles":["Wandance"],"work_titles":[],"studios":[],"people":["Coffee","JO"],"type":"announcement","domain":"manga","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":["JO of the nine-member boy group \u0026TEAM stars as Kabo (Kaboku Kotani) in the live-action film adaptation of Coffee's manga Wandance, set for nationwide release on November 27, 2026.","The film is directed by Naoya Kusaba, known for 'Yukiko a.k.a.,' with a script by Keiichi Kobayashi and dance supervision by Charisma Kantaro, founder of the professional dance league D.LEAGUE.","JO makes his film debut and first lead role with this project; he said he initially felt shock at the casting but found similarities between himself and Kabo after reading the original work.","Filming took place in winter 2025, and the film is currently in post-production; production and distribution is handled by Happinet Phantom Studios.","The manga Wandance has surpassed 1.1 million copies in cumulative print and received a TV anime adaptation in 2025 produced by Madhouse and Cyclone Graphics."]}