Masami Nagasawa Pursues New Challenges as Series Sequel Faces Uncertainty
At one point, it was said that a sequel would be impossible.
“The Confidence Man JP series, which aired as a Fuji TV drama in April 2018 and became a hit with the three movie installments grossing a total of approximately 10 billion yen, starred Masami Nagasawa as the leader of a group of cheerful con artists, Dako. Nagasawa won several awards, including the Best Actress Award at the 63rd Blue Ribbon Awards. Fans have been hoping for a sequel since the release of the third movie in 2022.” (Industry Insider)
However, at one point, there was uncertainty about the production of the sequel. This was due to the infidelity scandal involving one of the main cast members, Masahiro Higashide (36). In January 2020, his affair with actress Erika Karata (27) was reported by Shukan Bunshun (Shueisha), causing concerns about the release of the second movie, which was slated for May of that year. Despite the setback caused by the scandal, the movie was released in July after a delay due to COVID-19. The third movie, filmed before the scandal, was released in January 2022.
“Higashide has been focusing on film work recently, and in August of last year, he announced his remarriage to former actress Hana Hayashi (29) and the pregnancy of his wife. The couple also made their first media appearance together on the ABEMA program on December 28. Although it’s still difficult for him to appear in terrestrial TV dramas, his involvement in the series may not be an issue as the movies are produced and distributed by Toho, a major studio.
However, the real issue seems to be Nagasawa’s shift in focus toward new genres of work, as she seems less interested in a sequel to the series. Furthermore, the tragic deaths of her co-stars, Haruma Miura and Yuko Takeuchi, who starred in the movie, are believed to have affected her motivation for a sequel.” (Same source)
Unfortunately, for fans eagerly awaiting the return of the series, it seems that the production of a sequel is currently a difficult situation.
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