The upcoming live-action film Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan: Confessional, based on the popular spin-off from Hirohiko Araki’s JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, is set for release on May 23. New scene stills have been unveiled, capturing the life-or-death popcorn battle between Shigeyuki Totsugi as the vagrant Sotoba and Shunsuke Daito as the cursed man, Mizuo.

The film adapts the legendary origin story "Confessional" while introducing original elements, depicting a timeless curse across space and time, all set against the backdrop of a full-location shoot in Venice.

The story begins when manga artist Rohan Kishibe listens to a terrifying confession inside a confessional booth — a tale of a bizarre event from 25 years ago. Mizuo, working at a demolition site, encounters the vagrant Sotoba. After refusing him food, Mizuo witnesses Sotoba's accidental death from falling down stairs. However, Sotoba mysteriously reappears, cursing Mizuo by declaring, "When you reach the peak of happiness, I will make you taste despair."

The newly released stills capture the fateful encounter between Sotoba, who curses from the depths of despair, and Mizuo, who is doomed to fear the happiness that the curse will one day destroy. Another still shows Sotoba’s face lighting up with hope upon receiving Mizuo’s lunch — a hope soon to be cruelly crushed.

The old barracks, now abandoned, were carefully selected by the production team, who are well-versed in the original manga, to provide the eerie atmosphere unique to Venice that enhances the curse-laden story.

Totsugi expressed his honor in appearing in a work based on Hirohiko Araki’s universe, while Daito, a devoted fan of both the original manga and the drama series, shared his thrill of embodying Mizuo’s cursed fate. Both actors fully immersed themselves in their roles. Although lead actor Issei Takahashi (who plays Rohan Kishibe) had few scenes with them, he praised their unwavering dedication to their characters.

Story: Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan: At a Confessional

Manga artist Rohan Kishibe hears a terrifying confession from a masked man at a Venetian church. The man reveals a curse placed upon him after he accidentally killed a vagrant: "At the height of happiness, you will experience ultimate despair."

Having lived his life desperately trying to avoid happiness, the man one day feels genuine joy while watching his daughter play innocently. At that moment, the supposedly dead vagrant appears and forces him into a trial involving popcorn.

"If you can catch a piece of popcorn in your mouth three times in a row, my curse will be lifted. But if you fail, you must accept your greatest despair..."

Drawn into this bizarre confession, Rohan uses his unique ability to turn people into books and read their memories and experiences. However, he soon realizes that he, too, has been afflicted by the "curse of happiness."

Trailer: Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan: At a Confessional

Source : ORICON NEWS