WIND BREAKER Live-Action Film Revealed

Filming took place in Okinawa!

The popular delinquent manga “WIND BREAKER”, which has sold over 8 million copies in four years since its serialization, has been decided to be made into a live-action movie directed by Kentaro Hagiwara (“Blue Period”). The movie adaptation was announced in a special trailer that was released for the first time in Japan in the final episode of the second season of the TV anime. The first look was also unveiled.

“WIND BREAKER” began serialization in Magazine Pocket in 2021, won the “Recommended Comics 2022 Selected by Booksellers Nationwide” in 2022, and was made into a TV anime in 2024. The second season of the TV anime was broadcast in April 2025, and it has been made into a stage play and a game, gaining support from a wide range of people.

The protagonist of this work is Sakura Haruka, who has lived a lonely life with only fighting as his only talent. He enrolls in Furin High School to become the top student at the school, which was once feared as a den of delinquents, but the students are now known as “Wind Breakers” and have transformed into people who protect the town. Although Sakura is confused, she throws herself into the battle with her new friends as a member of the Wind Breakers, risking the fate of the town…

In addition to director Hagiwara, the script was written by Masaike Yosuke, who won the Japan Academy Prize for Best Screenplay for “Haken Anime!”. The two teamed up to depict how the lonely protagonist Sakura Haruka grows and changes through her interactions with her friends while ensuring the appeal of an action movie.

Filming took place entirely on location in Okinawa from February to April. With the cooperation of the prefecture, local government, and local residents, the Tofu Shopping Street, which the Bofurins protect, was rented from a real shopping street and decorated with store signs, exteriors, and interiors for each store. A large-scale open set was created, including the arch of the shopping street, which is an icon of the original work, and the signboard with the Bofurins’ speech painted on it, which were constructed from scratch.

The first look released for the first time shows a back shot of the six Bofurins facing off against a horde of lion heads that have swarmed the streets of Tofu Shopping Street. With the wind blowing and leaves fluttering, the intensity of the battle about to begin is added to the image, resulting in a photo with a sense of scale.

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Super trailer for the film “WIND BREAKER” | Release date: December 2025

In the trailer, you can see a number of fast-paced action scenes and an impressive back shot of Sakura rushing towards the enemy. The cast, including the main character Sakura, will be announced at a later date. The film will be distributed by Warner Bros. and is scheduled to be released in December.

The full comments from Director Hagiwara, screenwriter Masaike, and producer Yoshitaka Kamo are as follows.

■Director: Kentaro HagiwaraThis film is a challenge to the seemingly outdated genre of “yankee movies.” It can also be rephrased as a break from stereotypes. Can we deliver a message that will help young people look forward through violence that cannot be affirmed for any reason? We took on the challenge of filming with young, passionate actors, believing that the answer lies beyond questioning, destroying, and reconstructing what is “common sense.” Please look forward to the release.

■Screenplay: Masaike Yosuke With the determination to “pack every last bit of the characters’ charm into the script for the movie WIND BREAKER,” I worked on the script. Imagine the main characters Sakura and her friends clashing, screaming, and fighting through the story, and through multiple scriptwriting meetings, I think I was able to spin a story of overwhelming passion in which every scene is a highlight. And through discussions with the original author, Nii-sensei, an original plot development unique to the movie was born!!! In collaboration with my favorite director, Hagiwara Kentaro, we have created a completely new delinquent movie that will appeal to fans of the original work as well as those who are experiencing it for the first time, and that will aim for the top! Please wait a little longer until it is released!

Producer: Kamo YoshitakaThe passionate friendship of the friends overcomes the loneliness and conflict that the main character, Sakura, is facing. I was moved by this thrilling plot development, and decided to make a live-action movie out of this work. I think that everyone has felt lonely at least once, just like Sakura. “Even deep darkness that cannot be overcome alone can be broken with friends.” This was the starting point of the project, as we wanted to convey the powerful message of the original work in a film. From the beginning of the project, we have worked together with talented creators such as the original author, Nii Satoru, director Kentaro Hagiwara, and screenwriter Yosuke Masaike to make the film “WIND BREAKER” enjoyable for the audience. The film combines the powerful action of live-action with a heart-warming story of friendship, making it the most entertaining film of the winter. We hope you will enjoy it.

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First Visual and Trailer Tease Intense Street Drama

The live-action adaptation of WIND BREAKER brings fresh excitement to fans of the high-octane delinquent manga. With its gritty visuals and high-energy fight choreography teased in the first trailer, the film seems poised to capture the rebellious spirit of the original. However, adapting a manga with such strong visual identity and fanbase poses a challenge—especially in translating stylized characters and intense street fights to live-action. The casting and direction will be crucial in determining whether this adaptation resonates with audiences or falls short like many similar attempts in the past. Still, this trailer shows promise and suggests a film that’s not just loyal to the source, but ambitious in its own right.