Netflix Japan is bringing the webtoon phenomenon Viral Hit (Kenka Dokugaku) to live action, with a global premiere set for May 28, 2026. 

Equal parts action, drama, and digital-age commentary, the series follows Kota Shimura, a bullied high schooler whose life flips after a fight is accidentally livestreamed, pushing him into sudden internet fame.

Ouji Suzuka (Kimi ni Todoke) stars as Kota, who launches a NewTube channel to raise money for his mother’s hospital bills. He is joined by Ai Mikami as Aki Yashio, his junior turned editor, and Araki Sugou as Toru Kaneko, his classmate and cameraman. The supporting cast includes Nana Asakawa, Takuro Osada, and Mieko Harada.

Directed by Hideki Takeuchi (Fly Me to the Saitama, Thermae Romae) and written by Yuichi Tokunaga (Cells at Work! live-action), Viral Hit adapts the global hit webtoon by Taejun Pak and Kim Junghyun. The original series has amassed over 2.2 billion views worldwide and surpassed 500 million reads in Japan alone, following its launch on Line Manga in 2020. It was previously adapted into a 12-episode anime in 2024.

At its core, Viral Hit tracks Kota’s rise from overlooked teen to unlikely fighter, guided by a mysterious online mentor as he takes on stronger opponents and learns what it really means to go viral. With high-impact fight scenes and real emotional stakes, the series taps into a generation raised on livestreams, side hustles, and survival in the spotlight.

Viral Hit premieres globally on Netflix on May 28.