Masakazu Katsura's debut serialized work and masterpiece, "WING-MAN," which ran in Weekly Shonen Jump (Shueisha) from 1983 to 1985, has been adapted into a live-action drama. It will air on TV Tokyo's Drama Tuesdays! slot starting October 22, every Tuesday at 12:30 a.m. (On TV Osaka, it will start on October 25, every Friday at 2:40 a.m.). Additionally, each episode will be exclusively available for unlimited viewing and simultaneous streaming on the video distribution service DMM TV (the first episode will be pre-released on October 16). Ahead of the premiere, the key visual symbolizing the series has been unveiled.

Designer Masahiro Furuya, who created the key visual, commented, "While paying respect to the world depicted by Mr. Katsura so as not to disrupt it, I aimed for a quality in the key visual that could stand alongside global hero movie productions."

He continued, "Above all, I wanted to craft a composition that stirs both anticipation and nostalgia for fans of the original work, ensuring their satisfaction. Simultaneously, I aimed for a visual impact that would captivate those seeing it for the first time. With hopes of conveying even a fraction of the passion that the filming staff, performers, and I personally have for this work, I took on the design. I sincerely hope this 'love' reaches everyone!"

Influenced heavily by 1980s tokusatsu (special effects) heroes, "Wing-Man" gained popularity among both men and women, expanding into anime and games, and revolutionizing Weekly Shonen Jump at the time. To commemorate its 40th anniversary, the live-action drama adaptation has been realized.

A synopsis of the story

A mysterious and beautiful girl named Aoi appears before Kenta Hirono, a second-year high school student and tokusatsu enthusiast. She claims to have come from an alternate dimension, escaping the clutches of evil. By drawing his imagined hero "Wingman" in the Dream Note that Aoi possesses, Kenta gains the power to transform into the hero he has always dreamed of becoming. However, assassins are sent one after another from the alternate dimension to pursue Aoi...

Maito Fujioka will play Kenta Hirono, the second-year high school student who transforms into "Wingman." Konatsu Kato takes on the role of Aoi, the mysterious girl from the alternate dimension Podrimus who suddenly appears in the three-dimensional (Earth) world.

Drama Tuesdays! "Wingman" Cast Members (Top row, from left): Hina Kikuchi, Hiyori Katada, Amane Uehara, Jotaro; (Bottom row, from left): Yuno Ohara, Ui Mihara, Haruki Tachibana

Additional cast members portraying characters surrounding Kenta and Aoi have been announced.

Hina Kikuchi as Miku Ogawa, a gentle and modest classmate secretly attracted to Kenta, moved by his sense of justice.

Hiyori Katada as Kumiko Fuzawa, an aspiring journalist determined to uncover Wingman's true identity.

Amane Uehara as Momoko Morimoto, the energetic member of the Action Drama Club who loves heroes.

Jotaro as Tomoo Fukumoto, Kenta's best friend who, despite being exasperated by Kenta's excessive hero obsession, watches over him kindly.

Yuno Ohara as Sakagami, who arrives at Kenta's school as a student teacher.

Ui Mihara as Kurotsu, a mysterious girl who assists Kenta and his friends in their self-produced action movie.

Haruki Tachibana as Tatsuo Saito, a mysterious transfer student who appears in Kenta's class.

Source : ORICON NEWS