Unapologetic Projects is bringing Satoru Hiura's beloved manga Hotaru's Way to American television. The production company is developing a live-action series adaptation of the romantic comedy, which originally ran in Kiss magazine from 2004 to 2009.

Angela Nissel and Sasha Leigh Henry are writing the series. Nissel previously worked on Scrubs, while Henry comes from the writing team of Workin' Moms. Unapologetic Projects' Head of Television Paige Hooper, Motoko Kimura, and Kate Kugler are producing.

The story follows Hotaru Amemiya, a polished executive assistant who maintains a stark divide between her professional life—complete with designer heels and blazers—and her private world of comfortable sweats, takeout meals, and reality TV. That carefully constructed separation crumbles when her former boss unexpectedly moves back in, forcing her to reconsider her priorities around career, romance, and growing up.

The original manga tells a himono woman romance (himono women are known for preferring comfort and relaxation at home over romantic pursuits). Hotaru's comedic journey begins when she unexpectedly develops feelings for a younger man named Makoto, upending her carefully ordered life philosophy.

Hiura's manga was successful enough to spawn multiple sequels. The author launched Hotaru no Hikari SP in January 2014 and concluded it in May 2017, followed by Hotaru no Hikari BABY, which ran from October 2017 to April 2021. The source material has already proven its appeal beyond manga—the franchise inspired two Japanese live-action television series and a 2012 live-action film.

Kodansha USA Publishing currently handles English publication of the original series, which collected 15 volumes total. The fact that major Hollywood production companies are tapping into this catalog shows the continued appeal of romantic comedies with relatable female leads who challenge genre conventions. With a strong creative team and source material that's already proven successful across multiple formats, this adaptation has solid potential to find an audience among viewers who enjoy character-driven comedies.