TWICE’s Sana is officially going actress: JYP Entertainment has confirmed she will star as the female lead in Korea Japan film Nyangi alongside Japanese actor Takeru Satoh. It will be her first acting role and big screen debut.
The TWICE Sana acting debut comes about 11 years after she entered K-pop with the nine member group, and it lands just as TWICE wrap their giant “This Is For” world tour. A cat themed romance plot only makes the project more talked about.
TWICE Sana Acting Debut in Film Nyangi
JYP stated on July 8 that Sana “will star as a lead in the film Nyangi,” confirming her first official move into acting. The romance fantasy is a Korea Japan co production, with Sana playing heroine Nao at the center of the story.
Opposite her is Satoh as Tamaki, familiar to many global viewers from Kamen Rider Den O and the live action Rurouni Kenshin films. Directing is Kwon Hyuk chan of Secret Garden and Cinderella and Four Knights, so fans can expect glossy, emotional romance vibes.
Filming is scheduled to begin in Japan in the second half of 2026, with Korean outlets pointing to this fall and a largely Korean crew. Variants like Nyangi: Reaching Your World have appeared as a working title, but no release date or distributor is confirmed.
Cat Romance Fantasy for Sana’s First Role
Korean reports describe Nyangi as a cat themed romance fantasy in which Nao is actually a cat who becomes human to reach Tamaki, though that mechanic has not yet been detailed in an official English synopsis. Animal to human love stories already exist in Korean and Japanese dramas and films, so the premise sits inside a familiar fantasy tradition.
For Sana, that means a chance to play both whimsical and emotional beats, drawing on the bright, lovable image she has shown in TWICE. She also has deep ties to Japanese fans through MISAMO with Mina and Momo, giving this cross border project extra built in interest.
What Sana’s Movie Leap Means for TWICE
Career wise, this is a big step for Sana, who debuted with TWICE in 2015 and has spent about 11 years as a top tier idol before choosing a scripted lead. JYP said she received the scenario and confirmed her appearance, signaling that Nyangi is a carefully chosen first role.
The timing lines up with TWICE easing out of their intense “This Is For” world tour, which stretched across 44 cities and 81 shows. Sana joined her bandmates on stage for the final three concerts, then turned toward preparing for filming in Japan.
Online reactions to the TWICE Sana acting debut have been mixed, with many fans thrilled to see her lead a film and others uneasy about a cat becoming human for romance or the age gap with Satoh. The production and JYP have not yet explained how the relationship will be portrayed or when the movie will come out, so fans will be watching this fall as filming starts for clearer clues in set photos, teasers, and official summaries.