The live-action film Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan: At a Confessional, adapted from Hirohiko Araki’s JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure spin-off series, is set to premiere on May 23. Newly released behind-the-scenes and off-shot photos showcase the recreation of the iconic "popcorn battle"—a scene cherished by fans of the original manga.

The film adapts the legendary manga episode “At a Confessional,” considered a foundational story of the series, and adds original cinematic elements. Set entirely on location in Venice, the film unravels a curse that transcends time and space.

The story begins when manga artist Rohan Kishibe overhears a chilling confession in a Venetian church. It recounts a bizarre incident from 25 years ago involving a demolition worker named Mizuo (played by Shunsuke Daitō) and a vagrant named Sotoba (Shigeyuki Totsugi). After Mizuo refuses to give food to the starving Sotoba, the man falls down a staircase and dies—only to reappear moments later, cursing Mizuo with the words: “At the peak of your happiness, I will make you taste despair.”

A decade later, Mizuo has lived in fear, trying to avoid true happiness. But one day, watching his daughter play innocently, he feels overwhelming joy—triggering the curse.
Sotoba reappears, challenging Mizuo to catch popcorn in his mouth three times in a row, thrown higher than a streetlamp. The stage is set for a surreal, high-stakes trial involving a possessed daughter, swirling popcorn, and mysterious pigeons that may hold the key to survival.

In the newly unveiled photos, Daitō is seen amidst the intense atmosphere on set, surrounded by Venice’s picturesque architecture and canals. Reflecting on the scene, Daito said, “I couldn’t sleep before and after shooting. Although it was just three throws in the final cut, we shot over two days. I heard later they filmed 150 cuts! Thanks to the crew, I could focus without worrying about the numbers.”

The meticulous location scouting led the team to the perfect Venetian campo (public square), complete with flocks of pigeons. Daito’s passionate performance in these ideal conditions brings a striking realism and tension to the popcorn battle, making it a major highlight of the film.

Synopsis: Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan: At a Confessional

While visiting a church in Venice, manga artist Rohan Kishibe hears a horrifying confession from a masked man. The story centers on a curse cast upon a man who accidentally caused the death of a vagrant. The curse promises that he will face utter despair at the peak of his happiness. After years of avoiding joy, the man finally experiences true happiness upon seeing his daughter—and is then forced into a supernatural trial involving popcorn. Rohan, drawn into the tale, uses his ability to read memories by turning people into books, only to discover that the curse of happiness may be targeting him as well.

Source : ORICON NEWS