It was announced on July 30th that the film adaptation of the drama series "Last Man - The Blind Investigator," starring Fukuyama Masaharu and broadcast on TBS's "Sunday Theatre" (Sundays at 9pm) in April 2023, will be titled "Last Man -FIRST LOVE-" (directed by Hirano Shunichi, to be released in December 2025). A new one-minute Teaser trailer was released, and it was announced that the cast members who appeared in the drama, including Nagase Ren of the popular group King & Prince and actress Mio Imada, will be reprising their roles in the film.
The screenplay for "Last Man: The Blind Investigator" was written by Tsutomu Kuroiwa. It is a thrilling drama in which Hiromi Minami, a blind FBI special agent who is a people-pleaser, played by Fukuyama, and Shintaro Godo, a detective who will stop at nothing to arrest the criminal, played by Yo Oizumi, team up to tackle difficult cases.
The protagonist, Minami Hiromi, lost sight in both eyes due to an accident in the past, but is now a highly skilled special agent at the FBI, known as "the last man, the ultimate trump card that always ends cases," and has solved numerous cases. A lone detective, Godou Shintaro, is ordered to attend to Minami, who has come from the United States. The two, with different titles and personalities, gradually join forces to become an "invincible buddy team" that solves cases. In the second half of the drama, the past connection between Minami and Shintaro is revealed, and the shocking truth is revealed: the two are actually brothers.
The trailer just released reveals that the setting for this film is Hokkaido. Minami and Shintaro take on a new case in the snow-covered northern land. The person who holds the key to the case is Minami's first love... Who is she, who is being pursued by a mysterious organization? What is Minami's past? The invincible buddy team take on a difficult case that is "directly connected to world peace." While there is the humorous exchange between Minami and Shintaro, familiar from the TV series, the film also contains scenes that build anticipation with its overwhelming scale and suspenseful developments sprinkled with mysteries.
In addition to Nagase and Imada, the eight members of the drama series who supported the "invincible buddy" will also be reuniting for the film, including Matsuo Satoru, Imai Tomohiko, Oku Tomoya Oku, Kimura Tae, Yoshida Yo, and Takaya Kamikawa. The full cast comments are as follows:
◇ Comment from Nagase Ren (role of Godou Izumi)
I was really excited to get to go wild with those two again. Izumi's environment has also changed since the drama. I've also absorbed a lot of things between the drama and the movie, so I went into filming hoping to bring the personal growth I've experienced while playing Izumi to "The Last Man." I was happy that the script for the movie allowed me to fulfill the roles I'd always wanted to play, and filming in a large-scale location allowed me to act in an even more tense environment. The unpredictable plot, which leaves no room for error, combined with the sense of groove created by Fukuyama, Oizumi, and the team, make for an even more captivating film, I think. "The Last Man" will once again surprise viewers in a good way, so please look forward to it!
◇Comment from Mio Imada(role of Azuma Yuki)
Even while filming the drama, I was hoping for a sequel, so I'm happy to be back with everyone. There was constant laughter on set during filming, and this time too, it felt like I was instantly transported back to those times, with the joy of reuniting with my co-stars and the nostalgic atmosphere of the First Investigative Division. While "The Last Man" delves into deep social themes, Minami and the other characters are light-hearted, and I love that balance. The script this time is epic, and I'm really looking forward to seeing what kind of visuals it will produce. I'm sure there will be some startling moments in Minami's words this time around, so I hope you'll definitely watch it. There will be laughter and tears, and I think it's a special production that will live up to everyone's expectations, so be sure to see it in the theater!
◇Comment from Satoru Matsuo (role of Yoshiharu Umame)
I had a feeling that Minami would be returning as the last man, but when I saw Minami smiling with a white cane in hand and Godou Shintaro with shaggy hair beside her on set, I felt a strange mixture of happiness at seeing them after so long and irritation towards them (for the horses). The only thing that's unfortunate is that, while the highlight of this movie is the filming in beautiful locations with splendid guests, my appearance was limited to the studio in Tokyo, so I barely got to meet the guests... If I'd known it would be like this, I should have gotten along with them better (for the horses).
◇Comment from Tomohiko Imai (role of Kanji Kondo)
After watching the final episode of the TV series, I was convinced that "he's coming back," but when I actually heard about the movie, I remember being just as excited as a viewer to see how he would return. The script was also impressive, with a scale that far exceeded my expectations. Kondo is set to rarely go to the crime scene, so how will he get involved in the case from that room in the First Investigative Division, and how will he support Minami and Shintaro? I hope you will look forward to seeing this as well.
◇Comment from Tomoya Oku(role of Sota Hasegawa)
That ultimate buddy is returning to the big screen! We can't wait! It's amazing to see them together again in this miraculous production, to put it mildly. "The Last Man -First Love-" will not only reveal what happened to Minami and Shintaro, who we've all been wondering about since the end of the drama, but also what happened to Sakura's team! With thrilling action scenes and surprising story developments, we think you'll be able to enjoy an even bigger version of "The Last Man" at the cinema! Look forward to it this winter!
◇ Comment from Kimura Tae (voice of Deborah Jean Hongo)
As a fan, I couldn't be more excited to see "The Last Man" return. Deborah is free-spirited, good at lying, humorous, and incredibly intelligent, and has many charming qualities, so I feel that playing her is rewarding once again. The film is on a larger scale, the action is incredible, and I'm excited to see it become a truly entertaining film. It's filled with love, laughter, and even a few tear-jerkers... I think it's a film packed with all sorts of elements. And with the subtitle "FIRST LOVE," I imagine Deborah might be a bit jealous (laughs). I hope you enjoy that as well.
◇Comment from Yoshida Yo (role of Sakura Madoka)
I was really excited to see the witty exchanges between those two again. The ending of the drama left me wanting to see even more of their future exploits, so I've been waiting for this! The lively exchanges between Minami and Shintaro and the stable teamwork of Sakura's team, who care for their teammates, are still as strong as ever. In addition, there's the thrilling Hokkaido location shoot, the thrilling action, and the heart-pounding moments, including first love. The relationship between Shintaro and Sakura, both of whom are clumsy and stubborn, was a bit close in the drama, but I hope you'll look forward to seeing how it plays out in the movie. The buddy work between the incredibly charming Fukuyama and Oizumi is a highlight, and the way these two seemingly all-rounders help and complement each other, sometimes relying on their teammates to solve cases, I think this work conveys a kind message that you don't have to be perfect and that it's okay to ask for help when you're in trouble.
◇Comment from Takaya Kamikawa(role of Kyogo Godou)
I thought this was a work that had enough power to bring it back, so I'm very happy that it has taken shape like this. However, considering the circumstances that befell Kyogo in the final episode of the TV series, I couldn't imagine how he (Kyogo) would reunite with the two characters from "The Last Man," even though the story of the two characters had begun anew. I never thought we'd be able to work together again, so that, combined with that, makes me very happy. In the movie, the cross that Shintaro was carrying in the TV series seems to have been lightened in some way, and it feels like the things that shaped him have reached Phase 2. That's why I think he will form a buddy relationship with Minami with different ways of interacting and acting than before, and I feel that we've reached a point where you can enjoy "The Last Man" even more, including how the two will act now that they've been freed from their yoke. I'm sure this one will once again not disappoint and will reach your hands.
