Riko Fukumoto x Yusei Yagi (FANTASTICS) W starring! Popular manga “Stella Next Door” to be made into a live-action movie

■“I would like to sincerely face Subaru, who is adorable and human despite his clumsiness.” (FANTASTICS Yusei Yagi)

It has been decided that the manga “Next Door Stella” (written by Kodansha/Anmitsu), which is currently being serialized in Bessatsu Friend, will be made into a movie starring Riko Fukumoto and Yusei Yagi (FANTASTICS).

Subaru, an exciting young actor on his way to becoming a star, and his childhood friend Chiaki, a high school girl. A heartbreaking love story depicting the pure and straightforward love between two people who are childhood friends but end up in a frustrating relationship between a celebrity and an ordinary person.

This story of a near-yet-far-off love story between a celebrity and his childhood friend captured the hearts of readers as soon as it began serialization, and became a huge hit with a total of 900,000 copies sold in the seventh volume, which was released on December 13th. Girls all over Japan are captivated by the classic situation that everyone once dreamed of being a “celebrity” and a “childhood friend.”

A very ordinary high school girl: Chiaki Amano will be played by the latest movies in the “Odoru” series, “Shinji Muroi: The Undefeated” and “Shinji Muroi: The One Who Continues to Live”, as well as the drama “All Domain Abnormality”, which is currently a hot topic. Riko Fukumoto continues to appear in many popular works, including appearing as a key person in “Solution Room” (Fuji TV). In 2025, he will appear in the movie version of “Trillion Game” and star in the movie “Ojo to Watchdog-kun,” which will be released in 2025.A young actor who has shown remarkable success in recent years will take on the challenge of a straightforward and pure love story. .

The other main character, Hiiragi Subaru, is the vocalist of Japan’s leading dance and vocal group, FANTASTICS, and will be making his first solo starring role in the movie “Yano-kun’s Ordinary Days.” Yusei Yagi is expanding his career as an actor, with the upcoming movie “We Can Use Magic Only Once in Our Life” starring him. There is no doubt that everyone will be glued to the dream-like situation in which Yagi, who has been inducted into the National Treasure Handsome Men’s Hall of Fame and has made many girls’ hearts flutter, plays the role of a celebrity and shows his love for his childhood friend. .

The love story of these two people has been highly acclaimed for his directing skills in depicting the bittersweet and bittersweet scenes of youth in films such as “Midsummer Dream” and “Young People at Dawn.” Kana Matsumoto is one of the hottest young directors. How do we depict this classic love story? Expectations are high to see how the fresh cast will be performed.

Filming will begin in January 2025, with release scheduled for summer 2025. What if the “celebrity” was a “childhood friend”? A super royal love story for the Reiwa era is born.

【story】
Chiaki and Subaru are childhood friends who live next door to each other. The two were best friends, but things changed when Subaru was scouted by the entertainment industry. Subaru becomes a popular young model and people always gather around him. Although Chiaki supports Subaru and maintains a certain distance from him even though he has become popular, she still cannot stop the feelings she has had for him since childhood.
Chiaki is unable to take the first step because she is concerned about the relationship between a popular celebrity and an ordinary person, but as she spends more time with Subaru, she becomes unable to stop her feelings. “I like Subaru. I’ve always loved him.” Chiaki finally tells Subaru her feelings, but he says, “I only see him as a childhood friend.” The two of them have been in contact with each other almost every day, but from this day on, they start to drift apart.
After seeing Subaru’s success, Chiaki becomes proactive and starts working part-time. As she talks with Takahashi, a senior part-time worker who works there, her wounds gradually heal. Subaru, on the other hand, moves from modeling to the world of drama and is on his way to becoming a star. A love story of Chiaki, who has hidden feelings for Subaru, who is “near but far away.” What is its whereabouts?

■Riko Fukumoto comment
I’m Riko Fukumoto, who plays Chiaki Amano.
Chiaki is a bright and determined girl, but I found it very cute that she can’t be honest in front of Subaru and becomes stubborn.
I’m really looking forward to interacting with Subaru, played by Mr. Yagi.
Please look forward to the future of the love between these two people, both close and far away.
■Yusei Yagi comment
My name is Yusei Yagi, and I will be playing the role of Hiiragi Subaru.
I knew about Mr. Anmitsu from “Takane no Ran-san,” and of course I had also read “Next Door Stella.”
I am excited to be able to be involved in the world that you are creating!
I would like to sincerely face Subaru, who is human and adorable despite his clumsiness, so that fans of the original work can also enjoy it.
I hear that many of the cast and staff are from the same generation, including Director Matsumoto, who is the same age as me.
We would like to work together to create the charm that only this work can bring out to the best of our ability!
■Original author: Anmitsu comment
It’s been about a year and a half since we first heard about it, and we’re finally able to announce it!
To be honest, at first I was worried about whether it would be okay to involve so many people in a story that was based on my imagination, but I was honestly happy because it was my dream as a manga artist.
I had a lot of fun exchanging opinions with the director and producers, and I received a script that valued the atmosphere of the original story so much that I could replay the footage in my head, so I’m really looking forward to it!
I’m sure that “Stella Next Door” will be a great show, thanks to the amazing efforts of all the staff and cast!
Please look forward to it.
■Comment from producer Shota Okada
I just want to create a “fresh and honest love story”!
While I was thinking that, I came across the original work called “Stella Next Door” and immediately started planning, thinking, “This is exactly what I want!” What if the celebrity you admired was your childhood friend? It’s a situation that is so classic that everyone would fantasize about it at least once! I’m really looking forward to creating this work centered around Riko Fukumoto and Yusei Yagi, two of the most trending people at the moment.
The production team for this work is also fresh! That’s why we’re taking on the challenge with our energetic staff, led by creators in their 20s: director: Kana Matsumoto, scriptwriter: Sawako Kawamitsu.
I hope that young actors and staff members of the same generation will come together and work hard to create a work that is as authentic and heart-pounding as you’ve ever seen!
Please read the original work and prepare for it while waiting for further information.

Movie information

“Stella next door”
Summer 2025 Released on Toho networks nationwide
Original work: Anmitsu “Next Door Stella” (serialized in Kodansha “Bessatsu Friend”)
Director: Kana Matsumoto
Screenplay: Sawako Kawamitsu
Starring: Riko Fukumoto Yusei Yagi
Distribution: Toho
(C)2025 Movie “Stella Next Door” Production Committee

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