UPDATE: Main Cast Revealed & Daikaiju Confirmed!

Recent rumors have come to fruition today as TOHO and partner studio KHARA reveal their next confirmed kaiju eiga epic – SHIN ULTRAMAN!

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Ultraman artwork courtesy of Tomoaki Matsumo

Announced publicly in Tokyo on August 1st, 2019 (July 31st here in the states), TOHO will work in tandem with Tsuburaya Productions and their own multiple-Japan Academy Award winning SHIN GODZILLA team to bring the world a spiritual followup to their 2016 smash hit.

Hideaki Anno will join the production as soon as he finishes work on his current EVANGELION 3.0+1.0 film. His returning co-director, director of special effects & writer Shinji Higuchi of Godzilla series fame has been hard at work on SHIN ULTRAMAN in private, and a first draft of the script was completed in February of 2019. Unlike their Godzilla project, however, Higuchiwill be taking the lead directing role this time around, with Anno concentrating on the screenplay.

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Anno & Higuchi wear the love they have for tokusatsu openly during press for SHIN GODZILLA (2016) – Courtesy of TOHO Co. Ltd.

Following the press announcement, Yahoo Japan confirmed to their readers that the film will center on “what happens if Ultraman exists in modern society” – cementing it’s status as a spiritual successor to SHIN GOJIRA, which did the same for Toho’s premiere kaiju.

Fans are already reaching out to ask if SHIN ULTRAMAN will also be a political satire in turn. While no plot details are known yet, we do want to stress the poignancy of and tremendous success SHIN GOJIRA held for the Japanese as both a people and nation – and would expect their take on Ultraman to be targeted at the same audience. Hopefully, however, the dynamic duo is satisfied with Shin Gojira‘s prolific, timely take on Japanese politics and is ready to give the world the modern sci-fi epic we’ve been waiting for! Only time will tell.

The official press statement from Anno’s Evangelion studio, KHARA, who will be co-producing the picture alongside TOHO & TSUBURAYA, released the following:

Notice of “Sin Ultraman” movie – KHARA STUDIOS

It is scheduled to be released in 2021 and the production of the movie “Shin Ultraman” has been announced.
Hideaki Kuwano will participate as a plan and script in the Higuchi group led by Makoto Higuchi.
In addition, the draft study draft is unprinted on February 5, 2019, and Konno is scheduled to join the Higuchi group in earnest after the “Shin Evangelion Movie version” is completed.
Thank you very much.

Production: Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd., Toho Co., Ltd., Color Co., Ltd.
Distribution: Toho Co., Ltd.
Release date: scheduled

for 2021 Please contact Toho Co., Ltd. for inquiries.
Please note that we can not reply.

RELEASE NEWS – A NEW FILM “SHIN ULTRAMAN”

Tokyo, August 1St 2019 -. A New Film Production Of “SHIN ULTRAMAN” Was Publicly Announced Today The New Movie Will Come To Theaters In 2021.
Hideaki Anno Will Join A Film Team, Higuchi- First draft script has been completed in February 5th, 2019. Anno will fully join the project after finishing his “EVANGELION: 3.0 + 1.0” film.

Presented by: Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd.
Toho Co., Ltd.
Khara, Inc.
Distributed by: Toho Co., Ltd.
Release: 2021

Toho Co., Ltd. Will take care of public communications. Please get contact with Toho regarding this project.

As always, we’ll keep you updated every step of the way! We’re beyond excited to find out what direction this dream-team is taking Japan’s most beloved hero in.

Until then,

 

Jon D. B.

 

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