Shin Kamen Rider (film)

is an upcoming Japanese ''tokusatsu'' superhero film written and directed by Hideaki Anno. Produced to celebrate the 50th anniversary of ''Kamen Rider'', it is the third reboot of a ''tokusatsu'' series to be adapted by Anno, following ''Shin Godzilla'' and ''Shin Ultraman''.

Anno first proposed the project after becoming close with Toei producer Muneyuki Kii during the production of his 2012 film '' Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo''. Initially, Toei aimed for the film to be released in 2021, however, production was delayed due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Principal photography began on October 3, 2021 and wrapped in either late 2021 or at the end of January 2022.

The film is scheduled for release in Japan in March 2023.

Premise

College student and motorcycle enthusiast Takeshi Hongo is abducted by the evil organization Sustainable Happiness Organization with Computational Knowledge Embedded Remodeling, otherwise known as "Shocker", and converted into the cyborg Batta Augment-01 as part of their plans for world domination. Before they can brainwash him to do their bidding, he escapes and uses his new enhanced abilities, renaming himself Kamen Rider, to wage a one-man war against Shocker.

Cast

* Sosuke Ikematsu as Takeshi Hongo, the man who will transform into the cyborg Batta Augment-01, Kamen Rider.
* Minami Hamabe as Ruriko Midorikawa
* Tasuku Emoto as Hayato Ichimonji, the man who will transform into the cyborg Batta Augment-02, Kamen Rider No. 2.

The film will also star Shinya Tsukamoto, Toru Tezuka and Suzuki Matsuo.

Production

Crew

* Hideaki Anno – director, writer, concept designer
* Katsuro Onoue – associate director
* Ikki Todoroki – deputy director
* Shinichirō Shirakura – executive producer
* Yutaka Izubuchi – designer
* Mahiro Maeda – designer
* Ikuto Yamashita – designer
* Atsuki Sato – VFX supervisor
* Hiromasa Inoue – VFX producer
* Masayo Ohno – VFX producer
* Linto Ueda – post-production supervisor

Personnel taken from ''Eiga.com''.

Development

Anno first proposed ''Shin Kamen Rider'' after growing close with Toei producer Muneyuki Kii during the production of his 2012 film '' Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo''. Planning for the film began in 2015 with Anno as director and screenwriter. Toei initially aimed for release in 2021, the year of the Kamen Rider franchise’s 50th anniversary; however, production was delayed due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The film was announced in a press conference on April 3, 2021, the 50th anniversary of the franchise's first episode. Anno, who grew up with the original 1971 ''Kamen Rider'' series, expressed his admiration for the franchise, calling it “epoch-making” and expressing a desire to "give back in some small way". Executive producer Shinichirō Shirakura revealed the teaser poster, illustrated by Mahiro Maeda, as well as plans for a Japanese release in March 2023.

In September 2021, the film's official Twitter account announced the script had been finalized, and shooting was soon to begin. The first teaser was revealed at a press conference on September 30, along with the casting of leads Ikematsu and Hamabe. The teaser is a faithful recreation of the original series’ opening title sequence, and revealed the designs of Kamen Rider, his Cyclone motorcycle and the iconic villain Spider Man. A statue of the film’s iteration of Kamen Rider was displayed at the Hideaki Anno Exhibition, alongside statues of ''Shin Godzilla'' and ''Shin Ultraman''’s titular characters.

On October 10, the film's official Twitter account revealed that Hayato Ichimonji/Kamen Rider 2 will appear in the film. On January 1, 2022, it was revealed that Tasuku Emoto would play the role.

Design

The film's version of Kamen Rider was designed by Anno, Maeda, and Ikuto Yamashita. A number of approaches to modernizing the design were considered, but the designers felt they steered too close to previous reimaginings such as '' Kamen Rider: The First'' and ''Kamen Rider Black''. It was ultimately decided to go "back to basics," retaining the overall design of the original 1971 suit with only subtle alterations.

Yamashita also designed the film’s incarnation of the Cyclone, Kamen Rider's motorcycle. Use of a fully computer-generated bike was proposed, but ultimately rejected due to concerns over budget and screentime. The designer realized it would be impossible to faithfully recreate the original Cyclone’s silhouette with a modern bike; As such, production focused on finding a practical vehicle suited for the film’s action sequences, which then served as the base for Yamashita’s design.

Yutaka Izubuchi, a veteran designer who worked on the previous film reboot, ''Kamen Rider: The First'', designed the Kumo Augment-01, the film's incarnation of Spider Man.

Filming

Principal photography began on October 3, 2021. While the film's official Twitter account proclaimed filming wrapped in late 2021, Anno stated that he completed filming at the end of January 2022 in ''Shin Ultraman Design Works''.

Release

Marketing

In February 2022, Toho, Khara, Toei, and Tsuburaya Productions announced a collaborative project titled "Shin Japan Heroes Universe" for merchandise, special events and tie-ins. The project will unite properties that Anno had worked on bearing the title "Shin", such as ''Rebuild of Evangelion'', ''Shin Godzilla'', ''Shin Ultraman'' and ''Shin Kamen Rider''.

The theatrical release poster and a second trailer, as well as additional casting information, were unveiled on May 13th, 2022, alongside the theatrical release of ''Shin Ultraman''.

Theatrical

''Shin Kamen Rider'' is targeted for a March 2023 release in Japan. In April 2021, Shirakura declared the film would be released internationally, but the exact date was undecided.

Notes

References

External links

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{{Hideaki Anno

Upcoming films
2020s Japanese superhero films
2020s Kamen Rider films
Japanese-language films
Films directed by Hideaki Anno
Films with screenplays by Hideaki Anno
Films produced by Kazutoshi Wadakura
Toei Company films