A press conference announcing the production and lead role of NHK's Asadora drama series for the first half of 2027 was held on November 21st at the NHK Broadcasting Center in Shibuya, Tokyo. It was announced that the title would be "Mawaru Swan" (The Revolving Swan) and that Misato Morita would play the lead role. Producer Kuwano Tomohiro revealed that Morita was not selected through an audition but rather received an offer, and explained the reasons for her casting.
Regarding casting Morita, Kuwahara revealed, "When we decided to portray characters in their late 20s to 30s, I couldn't imagine choosing someone through an audition." He added, "Rather, once the role and theme became clearer, and the age range became clearer, the idea of wanting to work with Morita came to mind."
He further praised her talent, calling her "an incredibly talented person," and explained the reason for casting her: "No two roles in movies or dramas are alike; her ability to differentiate between them is remarkable. Her incredible talent and her ability to create a sense of everyday life are the two main points."
Comedian Bakarhythm, who wrote the script for this film, also gave her his seal of approval to her acting ability, saying, "I think she is a truly charming actress and has overwhelming talent. She is someone who can play a completely different character in each of her various works."
He said that it was his first time meeting Morita, and added, "I've never worked with him before, but I thought he would definitely create a wonderful piece. I had a feeling that his style would be a good match for mine."
"Meguru Swan," the 116th installment of the NHK morning drama series, is set in modern-day Nagano Prefecture. The protagonist, who aspired to be a detective and became a police officer, is assigned to the "Community Safety Division" and spends his days feeling dissatisfied with his mundane work. He is not someone who has achieved anything remarkable, nor is he relentlessly pursuing his dreams. This is a human comedy about a protagonist who lives an ordinary life and finds his way to "protect an ordinary life where nothing happens."
