Producer Ohno Atsuko of Hassaku Labs, known for the film "Nagi Notes", is collaborating with Pan Nalin on a new project titled "The Man Who Walks," an English-language film currently in the casting phase and looking for co-production partners at the Cannes Film Market.
Exploring Immortality
The film centers on the world's only immortal man who falls in love with a Japanese scholar focused on ancient texts about dying. Planned to be filmed in Tokyo and other locations in Japan, the screenplay has been developed by Nalin's Monsoon Films in collaboration with L.A.-based writer Tinker Lindsay.
This film marks a continuation of Ohno and Nalin's creative partnership, which began with "Valley of Flowers," a manga-inspired epic that shared similar themes of immortality and timeless love. "Pan Nalin and I worked together on 'Valley of Flowers'—part of which was shot in Tokyo. That film dealt with the same preoccupations: immortality, reincarnation, a love that refuses to be extinguished by time. When he brought me this screenplay, we weren’t starting from zero. I believe in his vision, and that belief was built on something we had already made together," Ohno said.
A Cinematic Meditation
Pan Nalin described "The Man Who Walks" as "a cinematic meditation on time, memory, nature, and the fragile weight of the human heart." His interest in ancient scriptures like the Egyptian Book of the Dead and Bardo: Tibetan Book of the Dead influences the film. According to Nalin, "when you imagine a love story with these epic backdrops, what you get is a contemporary romance celebrated through nothing but a simple act of walking."
Nalin's previous work, "Last Film Show," was Oscar-shortlisted in 2023 for the international feature category and released in Japan by Shochiku Studios. It is set for theatrical release in France this summer, with worldwide distribution handled by Studiocanal to partners such as Samuel Goldwyn Films in the U.S. and Medusa in Italy.
Quest for Answers
Ohno emphasized the film's exploration of existential questions, stating, "This film asks a question that humanity has never stopped asking—what lies beyond death. Is there hope on the other side, or only silence? A man who has walked the earth for 3.3 million years carries that doubt and that longing in every step. What moves me is watching him search for an answer he may never find—and the way Pan Nalin renders that search in images of breathtaking beauty. In a world full of uncertainty and anxiety, I believe this is a story that will reach deep into the hearts of many people."
Ohno's recent projects include "Love on Trial" by Fukada Koji and "Sleep No More" by Edwin, both of which premiered at major film festivals in 2025. Nalin is represented by Lindsay Williams at the Gotham Group in Hollywood.
Source: https://variety.com/2026/film/markets-festivals/nagi-notes-ohno-atsuko-pan-nalin-the-man-who-walks-1236748287/
