It has been revealed that Daisuke Sakuma of the popular group "Snow Man" will play his first solo lead role in the film "Specials," which will be released in spring 2026. Director Eiji Uchida, who teamed up with Sakuma on "Matching," is the original creator, scriptwriter, and director of the film, which tells the story of a group of assassins who are serious about winning a dance competition in order to fulfill their mission. Sakuma said, "It's my first time trying out some serious, intense gun action, and it's also a gentle film that fosters friendship and love between various people. It's also full of dancing and lots of comical, hilarious scenes, so I hope everyone will enjoy it."
A completely original work by Director Uchida, known for "Midnight Swan." A group of lone professional assassins of different ages and personalities are given a mission with a very high reward, but the only way to eliminate the "trickster" target is to win a dance competition. Will this impromptu team with zero experience, zero cooperation, and zero motivation take on a real dance challenge? This is an unpredictable story. Sakuma plays Dia, a legendary ex-assassin who usually works as a kind-hearted assistant at a children's home.
The appearances of Kippei Shiina, Yuta Nakamoto (NCT), Sho Aoyagi, and Hitoshi Ozawa were also announced. Shiina will play Kumashiro, the No. 2 of the Kazama Group who is the one who brought the assassins together for this mission, Nakamoto will play Kiryu, a cool assassin who has been scarred in the past and hates to be in groups, Aoyagi will play Shin, a hotheaded but kind-hearted assassin, and Ozawa will play Murasame, a former yakuza who is like a brother to Kumashiro but has now fallen on hard times.
Comments from the cast and director are as follows:
◇Diamond: Daisuke Sakuma(Snow Man)
Director Uchida is one of my mentors who introduced me to the joys of acting on screen, and this is the first time I've teamed up with him as the lead. I read the script with excitement, wondering how a hitman and dance would come together, and it was really interesting, with a detailed story that only Director Uchida could tell. And with all the amazing members. Yuta and I were in charge of the dancing, and Shiina, Aoyagi, and Ozawa were in charge of the acting, but I did my best to hang on to it in my own way.
It's a film that features my first attempt at full-scale, intense gun action, as well as a gentle story that develops friendship and love between various people.It's also filled with dancing and lots of comical scenes that will make you chuckle, so I hope everyone will enjoy it.
◇Kumashiro: Kippei Shiina
When I received the proposal, it said that the story was about five assassins who formed a team to dance and participate in a competition. I wondered why dance, but as I read the script, it made sense. But wait, I have hardly ever danced. And yet I was to dance with Sakuma-kun and Yuta-kun, who are very sharp. So I had them train hard before filming began, and I was fully prepared to go on set. Well, what was the outcome? Please come to the theater and see Director Uchida's completely new worldview, where violence and dance are fused together.
◇Kiryu: Yuuta Nakamoto (NCT)
When I first heard about the project, I was honestly a bit surprised, thinking, "A hitman dancing?" But as I read the script, I found it really interesting that it wasn't just unexpected, but that it actually worked as a story, and I became more and more drawn in.
And above all, seeing Kippei-san, Sho-san, and Ozawa-san really putting all their effort into dance practice really inspired me and Sakuma-kun. Regardless of age or experience, everyone was facing the same direction and sweating, and it was a really comfortable set. We were all so friendly on set, and there was always laughter. This is just my opinion (laughs), but I really hope there will be another "Specials 2." Please enjoy the world of "Specials" at the theater!
◇ Role of Shin: Sho Aoyagi
The movie "Specials" has finally been released. Starring Snow Man's Daisuke Sakuma, he co-stars with Shiina Kippei, NCT's Nakamoto Yuta, and Ozawa Hitoshi. The story is about a group of freelance assassins, played by me, who come together to win a dance competition. "You can dance, right?", "No, I'm from Gekidan EXILE, so I can't dance," are the repeated refrains of the three middle-aged men. The two of them start dancing with ease. Meanwhile, dance practice has begun for this film. I hope everyone will enjoy it. Please come and see it at the theater.
◇ Murasame: Hitoshi Ozawa
Working with Director Uchida is fun but also thrilling. Although I said I couldn't sing and dance, I was made to sing in "Retto Seiba" last time, and dance in "Specials".
Me: "I can't dance." Director: "Don't worry, it's a simple dance." What's so simple about it?! lol
Please come to the theater and enjoy the entertainment presented by these five actors, who are acting together for the first time!
◇ Original story, script and director: Eiji Uchida
A long time ago. I applied for a part-time job on the TV show "Takeshi the Genki TV" hoping to work on the set of a movie directed by my favorite director, Kitano Takeshi. It was only for a short time, but I was fascinated by dance when I was involved in the High School Dance Koshien corner, which was a pioneer of dance programs. Since then, I have been thinking about making a movie based on dance. I had a dance genius nearby, and I was fascinated by his personality and acting, so I invited Daisuke Sakuma, who I have known for a long time, to star in the film. I was well supported by super actors such as Shiina Kippei and Ozawa Hitoshi. The characters are all different, and they don't seem to get along at all. The story is crazy. To be honest, I had given up on making this film because I thought it would be difficult, but it's finally been completed. It's suspenseful, it makes you laugh, and it actually makes you cry. The moment the actors with all different personalities come together is tearful even on set. If you don't think I'm kidding, please check it out at the theater.
