Manga Wandance Gets Live-Action Film Starring &TEAM's JO
A live-action film adaptation of Coffee's manga "Wandance" has been announced, with JO of the nine-member boy group &TEAM 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.