Unapologetic Projects, the company behind the Sundance-winning film Dìdi, is expanding its television slate with a U.S. remake of the popular Japanese manga series Hotaru’s Way. The project marks a new step in the company’s broader move into TV development as it seeks to build a long-term pipeline of scripted series. The adaptation is being developed from the manga written by Satoru Hiura, which has sold more than 5 million copies worldwide and previously inspired both a Japanese live-action drama and the feature film Hotaru The Movie: It’s Only A Little Light In My Life, which earned more than $22 million at the Japanese box office.
The story centers on Hotaru, a polished and highly capable executive assistant who presents a sleek professional image at work, dressing in red-bottom heels and blazers, but lives a far more casual and chaotic life at home. By day, she keeps up appearances and navigates corporate demands; by night, she wears dirty sweats, orders takeout and watches reality television in an apartment she sublets from her former boss. Her carefully maintained separation between work and personal life begins to unravel when that boss unexpectedly moves back in, forcing her to confront deeper questions about career ambition, romance and what adulthood really means.
The U.S. series adaptation will be written by Angela Nissel, whose credits include co-executive producer on Scrubs and executive producer on Ginny & Georgia, along with Sasha Leigh Henry, who wrote for Workin’ Moms and created the Crave comedy series Bria Mack Gets a Life. Their involvement suggests a blend of sharp workplace comedy, character-driven storytelling and contemporary themes around identity and adulthood.
Unapologetic Projects Head of Television Paige Hooper will produce the series alongside Motoko Kimura, known for Vegas: A Love Story, and Kate Kugler, whose work includes The Toast. The project is part of a growing push by the company to establish itself in television with multiple developments underway.
Hooper said the team is excited to advance the series and described it as the first of several projects the company has in development as it builds a distinctive, long-term strategy. She added that the company believes it has a strong pipeline and is eager to bring new projects to audiences. The adaptation of Hotaru’s Way signals Unapologetic Projects’ intention to expand beyond film and develop a presence in premium scripted television with internationally recognized source material.
