The official website for the upcoming live-action TV drama adaptation Wingman, based on Masakazu Katsura’s (Video Girl Ai, DNA², I”s) superhero manga from 1983, today announced the two main cast members and theme song artist.20-year-old Maito Fujioka is cast as the protagonist, Kenta Hirono. He recently played Shun Futani, one of the main characters in the live-action TV drama adaptation of Kokone Nata’s Play It Cool, Guys in 2023. Kenta Hirono is his first solo lead role in a serial live-action drama series.Maito Fujioka released the following comment:
I am Maito Fujioka, and I play the role of Kenta Hirono. I was very happy to be offered the role because it has been one of my biggest dreams in my acting career to play the lead role in a terrestrial TV series. I felt a lot of responsibility and pressure to play the role of Kenta Hirono in “Wingman,” which sparked a revolution in Weekly Shonen Jump in the 1980s, but I took on the filming with a strong determination to live up to the expectations. He loves tokusatsu, wears a costume of his own making, and practices action every day. It was fresh and fun to play such a Kenta, and I was able to return to the feelings of a young boy. I believe fans of the original manga, tokusatsu fans, and those who have never seen tokusatsu before will enjoy this work. We hope you will enjoy this wonderful drama with action, emotion, and bloom of youth.
Maito Fujioka
25-year-old Konatsu Kato plays the main heroine, Aoi Yume. She previously played Aiko Asou, one of the heroin characters in the live-action drama adaptation of Katsura’s romance manga I”s, in 2018.Konatsu Kato also released the following comment:
I am playing the role of Aoi. Before we started filming, Katsura-sensei said, “Have you read the original manga? I’m sorry, but you’ll have to forget about it.” “You say the most outrageous things…,” I thought…but from that day on, I was able to cherish the reason why Aoi came to the third dimension world. I am happy to say that I, together with my partner Maitokun and all my favorite co-stars, have overcome the extreme heat and many other things and will be able to safely welcome next month’s broadcast. I think it is Director Sakamoto’s tokusatsu work that adult can enjoy. Please take a look.
Konatsu Kato
Japanese rock band BLUE ENCOUNT will provide the theme song, “chang[e].” The four-piece band was formed in 2004, and is known for their theme song works for Gintama, Mobile Suit GUNDAM Iron Blooded Orphans, and My Hero Academia, among anime fans. BLUE ENCOUNT’s vocalist/guitarist Shunichi Tanabe released the following comment, as well:
My boyhood days (back then) when I had nothing to fear because I was so determined. I have become an adult who was constantly being stripped of my armor by the monster of reality, and found myself hesitating to challenge it. I encountered the work “Wingman” and it made me want to destroy such a silly self. Thank you so much. I feel that my current struggles and determination have been firmly expressed in the sound of this song. I wonder how Kenta and this song will grow up in the future of the story. I would like to see it through together with you all.
BLUE ENCOUNT
Additionally, tokusatsu director Koichi Sakamoto was announced to serve as the director and action director of the series. Sakamoto previously worked as an action director for the Power Rangers series in the U.S., and then went on to direct all three major tokusatsu hero franchise in Japan — Kamen Rider Fourze (2011-2012), Jyuden Sentai Kyoryuger (2013-2014), and Ultraman Ginga S (2014).
Wingman Live-Action Teaser Trailer
The live-action TV drama series Wingman is set to premiere on TV Tokyo’s “DramaTues!” midnight programming block on October 22, 2024.As Katsura’s first serialized work, Wingman ran in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine from 1983 to 1985. The manga’s style, heavily influenced by the tokusatsu heroes of the 1980s, was adapted into TV anime and video games. The new live-action drama is made in commemoration of the manga’s 40th anniversary.The TV anime adaptation was produced by Toei Animation under the title Yume Senshi Wingman (“Dream Warrior Wingman”), which aired for 47 episodes from 1984 to 1985.Toei Animation’s official website describes the story:
Although Kenta Hirono appears in many ways to be the typical backward Tokyo junior high school student, he actually can transform himself into Wingman, the Ally of Justice. Yet his struggles for righteousness are often misunderstood; so, despite his good intentions, he often ends up disturbing his class and getting punished by his teacher.One day on his way home from school, Kenta has a dramatic encounter of the third kind. Aoi, a sexy girl who has fled from the multi-dimensional kingdom of Podreams, lands on his head. She is carrying the “Dream Book”, which can make dreams come true.Aoi, comes to live in Kenta’s house as his cousin; but Miku Ogawa, the girl in Kenta’s heart, at first misinterprets their relationship and gets jealous. Moreover, the evil king of Podreams sends a succession of killers to earth to snatch the “Dream Book”. Though this new situation makes Kenta somewhat dizzy, he manages to remain cheerful. Will the “Dream Book” help to bring good fortune to Kenta?This story is filled with both thrills and laughter.
Source: press release, “Wingman” live-action drama official website©Masakazu Katsura/SHUEISHA
