Move over Godzilla; Shin Ultraman will have a limited theatrical run in U.S. theaters, according to an announcement made during the Ultraman Connection panel at Anime NYC.In partnership with Fathom Events, Shin Ultraman will have a two-night run in theaters across the U.S. Fathom Events is owned by three of the world's largest theater circuits: AMC, Regal Cinemas (Cineworld) and Cinemark. Fans can catch the film in participating theaters on Wednesday, Jan. 11 and Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023.
Shinji Higuchi directed Shin Ultraman, while Hideaki Anno of Neon Genesis Evangelion fame wrote, co-produced and co-edited the film. A collaborative effort between Toho Studios and Cine Bazar, the movie reimagined Ultraman and is the second reboot adapted by Anno and Higuchi. The first adaptation the pair worked on being 2016's Shin Godzilla, with Shin Kamen Rider set to follow in 2023.
An official synopsis for the film reads, "The continued appearance of giant unidentified lifeforms known as 'S-Class Species' has become commonplace in Japan. Conventional weapons have no effect on them. Having exhausted all other options, the Japanese Government issued the S-Class Species Suppression Protocol and formed an enforcement unit, known as the SSSP. The members chosen for the unit are: Leader Fumio Tamura (played by Hidetoshi Nishijima), Executive Strategist Shinji Kaminaga (played by Takumi Saitoh), Unparticle Physicist Taki Akihisa (played by Daiki Arioka), and Universal Biologist Yume Funaberi (Akari Hayami) As the threat of S-Class Species worsens, a silver giant appears from beyond Earth's atmosphere. Analyst Hiroko Asami (played by Masami Nagasawa) is newly appointed to the SSSP to deal with this giant and is partnered with Shinji Kaminaga. In Hiroko's report, she writes... 'Ultraman (tentative name), identity unknown.'"
Shin Ultraman Defeated Shin Godzilla at the Box Office
Just eight days after its release on May 13, Shin Ultraman hit an impressive box office milestone. Despite releasing only in theaters in Japan, the film sold over 1 million tickets and earned over 1.5 billion yen (roughly $10.6 million in the current exchange rate), reaching 993 million yen (approximately $7 million in today's exchange rate) within the first three days. The impressive numbers were new records for the Ultraman franchise and the Shin movie series. By comparison, the previous highest-grossing Ultra movie was 2008's Super Ultraman 8 Brothers, which earned 838 million yen (roughly $5.9 million at the current exchange rate) during its opening weekend. The film also outpaced Shin Godzilla's opening weekend, which pulled in 825 million yen (estimated $5.8 million at today's exchange rate) at the box office.
Shin Ultraman will premiere at participating U.S. theaters on Jan. 11 and 12. Tickets will be available to purchase through Fathom Events.
Source: Twitter