New ‘Ultraman’ Movie Coming From The Creator Of ‘Neon Genesis Evangelion’
Hideaki Anno, whose anime masterpieceNeon Genesis Evangelionrecently made its streaming debut on Netflix, is reteaming with hisShin Godzillaco-director to direct a newUltramanmovie. TitledShin Ultraman, the live-action feature film is based “on the iconic 1966 tokusatsu TV series about a giant alien that battles space monsters to save the Earth.“Varietyreports that Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi, who co-directed the award-winning 2016 smash hitShin Godzilla, are reuniting to directShin Ultraman, a feature film adaptation of the beloved 1966 tokusatsu TV series (read: “special effects”) that follows a giant alien who battles space monsters to save the Earth. In his downtime, the alien takes human form to live as a normal person.
The newUltramanmovie, which was announced by Anno’s animation house Studio Khara Thursday, comes on the heels of aUltramanresurgence. A 2011Ultramanmanga brought the story to modern day and was adapted into an anime series thatdebuted on Netflixearlier this year. Though the property is little known internationally,Ultramanis a pop culture staple in Japan, spawning countless TV series, video games, comics, and movies. To adapt it into live-action again is a responsibility that Higuchi is taking seriously, the co-director said in a statement.
“A baton has been entrusted to me that has been shining ever since I was small child,” Higuchi said. “I will solemnly strive to fulfill my responsibility to pass on that heavy, radiant baton created by my seniors.”
Anno is currently busy working on the final installment of hisRemake of the Evangelionanimated film series,Evangelion 4.0 Final, but once it’s complete, he will devote himself full-time toShin Ultraman, according to Variety. Tsuburaya Production, Toho and Khara are producing the film, for which Anno will act as scriptwriter for Higuchi’s production unit. It’s a division of labor that worked wonders for the duo inShin Godzilla, a searing and heartbreaking bureaucratic satire that did justice by another iconic Japanese franchise, and won the team the Japanese Academy Award for Best Picture. If anyone can tackleUltraman, it’s tehse two.
The film is set to starMasami Nagasawa, Hidetoshi NishijimaandTakumi Saito. TheShin Ultramanrelease date is set for2021.
