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| TBS Announces July 2025 Premiere for New Drama “DOPE” with Takahashi and Nakamura in Lead Roles (Pic: TBS) |
Things are about to get very intense on Friday nights this summer, as Takahashi Kaito (King & Prince) and Nakamura Tomoya are officially teaming up to lead TBS’ upcoming spring drama “DOPE”, set to premiere this July in the coveted Friday 10 pm slot.
Based on Kisaki Chiaki’s manga, “DOPE” throws us into a near-future Japan where a mysterious and dangerous new drug – yep, it’s called DOPE – is spreading like wildfire.
In the middle of it all is Saiki Yuto, a fresh-faced rookie narcotics officer played by Takahashi, who’s just been thrown into the deep end with a transfer to the Special Investigations Division of the Narcotics Control Department – a secret unit no one’s supposed to know even exists.
Enter Jinnai Teppei, his new partner and instructor, portrayed by the ever-unpredictable Nakamura Tomoya.
Their first meeting? Not great.
Saiki’s all justice and earnest effort, while Jinnai... well, he does things his own way.
Think rule-breaking, rough-around-the-edges, but undeniably sharp.
Naturally, sparks fly.
But despite their clashing styles and constant bickering, the two end up forming an unlikely bond as they dive into some seriously bizarre and dangerous cases.
This marks Takahashi Kaito’s very first lead role in a TBS drama, and he’s clearly pouring everything into it.
Describing Saiki as “a bit awkward, a bit uncool, but somehow cool because of it,” he’s aiming to show all the messy, human parts of the character.
His first time working with Nakamura has already been, in his words, a learning experience.
“I’m basically absorbing something from Tomoya-san every single day – like a sponge,” he joked.
As for Nakamura, it’s his first TBS leading role in three years, and he's returning with a bang.
“This show’s packed with action and some pretty bold CG – it's gonna be visually wild,” he teased.
On his character Jinnai, he said, “He treats Saiki kind of roughly at first, but deep down I’m shaping him lovingly – like a handmade hamburger.” (Yes, really.)
Behind the scenes, producer Hasegawa Haruhiko shared that the key to the casting was to avoid any “been-there-done-that” buddy formula.
“We wanted a pair that felt fresh. Nakamura-san brought the unpredictable energy we needed for Jinnai, and Takahashi-san has that natural charm and emotional range to play Saiki’s growth journey.”
He even admitted, “We’ve only been filming for a month, and I’ve already cried several times watching their performances.”
“DOPE” promises to be much more than your standard crime series – it’s equal parts action-packed, emotional, and just a little off-kilter.
With a futuristic Japan as the backdrop, a dangerous new drug fuelling chaos, and two leads with sizzling chemistry, this one’s shaping up to be an absolute must-watch.
Set your reminders: “DOPE” hits screens July 2025, every Friday at 10 pm on TBS.