Live-Action Blue Lock Unveils Team V Footage and Visuals: Producer Says “It Won’t Work Unless These Three Shine” (Full Comments)

The live-action Blue Lock film is set to premiere on August 7, revealing Team V footage and character visuals that highlight the intense rivalry. Ahead of its release, new character visuals and footage featuring Team V, the formidable rivals of Team Z led by protagonist Yoichi Isagi, have been unveiled. The trio standing in their way includes K from &TEAM, Keito Tsuna, and Kohei Higuchi.

K, a member of the nine-member global group &TEAM under HYBE JAPAN who debuted in December 2022, plays Seishiro Nagi, the top scorer of Team V. Known for his tall stature and genius-level soccer skills, K has expanded his career across various fields, from captivating dance performances to television appearances, and even serving as a supporter for the Tokyo 2025 World Athletics Championships.

K shared that although he initially felt anxious about making his film debut, his passion for the original Blue Lock series and his background in soccer strengthened his determination to portray Nagi. He focused on expressing emotions through subtle eye acting, reflecting the character’s reserved nature.

Keito Tsuna plays Reo Mikage, an intelligent and athletically gifted heir who discovers Nagi’s talent. Tsuna, who rose to prominence after winning the Junon Super Boy Contest in 2017, recalled his excitement upon being cast and shared that he had passionate discussions with lead actor Fumiya Takahashi about creating a defining era with this film. He emphasized the importance of building a natural relationship with K off-camera to reflect their on-screen chemistry.

Kohei Higuchi portrays Zantetsu Tsurugi, a character known for his explosive acceleration and lovable personality. A former aspiring professional soccer player, Higuchi expressed deep gratitude for being able to combine his acting career with his passion for soccer, calling the experience invaluable.

Team V’s Power and the “Egoist Battle” Intensify

The newly released footage also offers a first look at the “Round-Robin League” of the first selection, following the earlier teaser that showcased the tag-based entrance test. Viewers can catch glimpses of Team V’s overwhelming physical abilities and Nagi’s genius-level plays as they dominate Team Z, raising anticipation for the intense ego-driven battles to come.

Blue Lock is originally a soccer manga serialized in Weekly Shonen Magazine. It follows Yoichi Isagi, an unknown high school forward, as he competes against rivals in the “Blue Lock” project, a program launched by the Japan Football Union to create the ultimate striker capable of leading Japan to World Cup victory. The story depicts a brutal survival competition among 300 high school forwards gathered from across the country.

The manga has surpassed 50 million copies in circulation. The anime adaptation aired its first season from October 2022 to March 2023, with a second season broadcast from October to December 2024. The franchise has also expanded into games and stage adaptations, with a sequel anime already confirmed.

The live-action film is produced by CREDEUS, known for works such as the Kingdom series and Golden Kamuy. Since the announcement of the adaptation last year, visuals of Team Z members, starting with Fumiya Takahashi as Yoichi Isagi, have been released sequentially, generating significant buzz on social media. At a production report event in February, it was also revealed that Masataka Kubota will play Jinpachi Ego, the mastermind behind the Blue Lock project.

Full Comments

K (&TEAM) as Seishiro Nagi
As this is my first film appearance, I initially felt more anxiety than excitement. However, having played soccer before and becoming a huge fan of the original work, my desire to portray Nagi grew stronger than those concerns.

Nagi is a character with low emotional expression, so I focused on conveying feelings through my eyes rather than facial expressions. Although I faced many unfamiliar challenges during filming, I was supported by my Team V co-stars Keito Tsuna and Kohei Higuchi, as well as lead actor Fumiya Takahashi and the entire cast and crew. I am truly honored to make my film debut with Blue Lock.

Keito Tsuna as Reo Mikage
I had heard about the film adaptation of Blue Lock, so I was incredibly excited when I was cast. I still remember having a passionate conversation with Fumiya Takahashi about creating a new era together. His presence as a leader was so inspiring that I felt there was no one else I would rather follow.

Reo is a seemingly perfect individual with both intelligence and athletic ability, but he also has an awkward side. Above all, he truly enjoys playing soccer with his partner Nagi. I made a conscious effort to build a strong relationship with K off-camera, believing it would naturally reflect in our performances.

Kohei Higuchi as Zantetsu Tsurugi
I have always loved Blue Lock and often imagined what it would be like if its world existed in reality. Being able to join such a beloved project means a lot to me, and meeting this amazing cast has become a valuable experience.

Zantetsu appears intelligent but is actually a lovable and somewhat foolish character, with explosive acceleration as his key strength. I paid close attention to details like finger positioning, foot angles, and maintaining a low, cheetah-like posture while running.

Since I once seriously pursued a career in professional soccer, I never imagined I would be involved in a soccer project as an actor. It felt like everything I had done in soccer led to this moment.

Producer Shinzo Matsuhashi
Casting Seishiro Nagi was extremely difficult, so we joked that we should just ask Nagi himself to play the role. That is how perfect K was for the part. Despite his concerns about limited acting experience, his performance beautifully captured both the coolness of soccer and the subtle emotional nuances of the character.
When I first met Keito Tsuna, he passionately spoke about his love for Reo. His dedication and warm personality made it easy to entrust him with the role. He perfectly expressed both Reo’s leadership and his human, playful side.

Kohei Higuchi won a highly competitive audition. With his background aiming to become a professional soccer player, he possesses both the technical skill and mental strength required for Zantetsu, along with a playful charm that energizes those around him.

Ultimately, if these three members of Team V are not exceptional, Blue Lock will not be compelling. The newly released footage only offers a glimpse, but the full film contains many thrilling and emotional scenes.

Source : ORICON NEWS