We learned in December 2024 that the manga series Gazing at the Star Next Door is the next property making the leap to a live-action film. The film is planned for a summer 2025 debut through TOHO. The project has Hana Matsumoto directing it from the screenplay by Sawaka Kawamitsu.
The film is scheduled for an August 22nd, 2025, release, and the second trailer has arrived below while bringing out some additional cast. The film also revealed that the FANTASTICS are performing the theme song “Itsumo Tonari de” for it.
The Japanese cast includes:
- Riko Fukumoto as Chiaki
- Yūsei Yagi as Subaru
The newly added cast includes:
- Misa Shimizu as Chiaki’s mother Chie Amano
- Tomu Miyazaki as Chiaki’s father Mitsuhiro Amano
- Mahiru Konno as Subaru’s mother Tōko Hiiragi
- Maho Nonami as Ritsuko Koyanagi
- Kenta Hamano as Hiroshi Tanase
Known originally as Tonari no Stella, it began in 2022 by Ammitsu which is serialized in Bessatsu Friend for Kodansha. It has seven volumes as of the announcement and is ongoing. The manga is continuing to do well as it has 900,000 copies in circulation in print and digital so far.
Plot Concept: Chiaki is a pretty normal teenage girl. Since they were kids, she’s had a thing for her best friend Subaru—who’s fast becoming the hottest young actor in Japan! With Subaru threatening to slip away, Chiaki has a decision to make: Will she finally take her shot, or give Subaru up to his adoring public?
Previous promos and visuals:
Magazine covers:
[Source: ANN]
