SHIN GODZILLA directors Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi are reuniting to make the new movie SHIN ULTRAMAN. Photos courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. © TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS

Source: Tsuburaya Productions

The original Ultraman. Photo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. © TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS

In 2015, longtime friends and collaborators Hideaki Anno -- creator of the anime NEON GENESIS EVANGELION (???????????, Shin Seiki Evangelion, 1995) -- and Shinji Higuchi -- director and FX director for the Gamera Trilogy (1995-99) and the live-action ATTACK ON TITAN (?????, Shingeki no Kyojin, 2015) movies -- co-directed SHIN GODZILLA (??????, Shin Gojira) for Toho Co., Ltd. and Cine Bazar. Released in 2016, the film was a box office smash as well as a critical hit, winning Best Picture and Best Director awards for Anno and Higuchi at the 40th Japan Academy Film Prize. Now, Anno, Higuchi, Toho and Cine Bazar are teaming up with Tsuburaya Productions to present their spin on the latter`s iconic superhero, Ultraman. Entitled SHIN ULTRAMAN (?????????, Shin Urutoraman), the movie is an adaption of the original ULTRAMAN (???????????????, Urutoraman K?s? Tokusatsu Shir?zu, 1966-67) television series, which has entertained fans around the world for over half a century. While few details have been revealed, the filmmakers have stated that SHIN ULTRAMAN will be separate from the main Ultraman continuity, taking place in a modern world where the hero appears for the first time. The goal is to recreate the impact audiences felt when the first ULTRAMAN debuted on TV back in 1966. Toho will distribute the film theatrically in Japan in 2021. Shinji Higuchi will direct SHIN ULTRAMAN. This will be a return him to the franchise, as he previously worked as a storyboard artist on ULTRA Q THE MOVIE (????Q ?????? ????, Urutora Ky? za M?b?-Boshi no Densetsu, 1990) and as a concept artist for the series ULTRAMAN: THE ULTIMATE HERO (??????????, Urutoraman Paw?do, 1993). Hideaki Anno has written the film`s screenplay, with the first draft completed this past February 5. He will join the production full-time after completing EVANGELION: 3.0+1.0 (??????????????: ||, ??????????????: ||, 2020), the long-delayed fourth and final chapter in his "Rebirth of Evangelion" anime feature film series. Anno is a lifelong fan of Ultraman, and made the 8mm amateur short DAICONFILM`S RETURN OF ULTRAMAN (DAICONFILM? ??????????? ??????1?????, DAICONFILM-ban Kaettekita Urutoraman Mattoar? 1-g? Hasshin Meirei) while a student at the Osaka University of Arts in 1983. In 2013, Anno received a license from Tsuburaya Productions to officially release the 27 minute movie on DVD. DAICONFILM`S RETURN OF ULTRAMAN was also included in the 2016 Blu-ray box set, HIDEAKI ANNO LIVE-ACTION MOVIE COLLECTION: 1998-2004 (???? ??????? 1998-2004, Anno Hideaki Jissha Eiga Sakuhin-sh? 1998-2004).

Cast members Masami Nagasawa, Takumi Saito and Hidetoshi Nishijima. Photos courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. © TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS

The main cast for SHIN ULTRAMAN features Takumi Saito, Masami Nagasawa and Hidetoshi Nishijima. Saito, who will reportedly play Ultraman`s human identity, has acted in such works as SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO (???????, Sup?su Batorushippu Yamato, 2010), SHIN GODZILLA, YO-KAI WATCH THE MOVIE 2016 (?? ?????? ?????????????????????, Eiga Y?kai Uotchi Soratobu Kujira to Daburu Sekai no Daib?ken da Nyan!) and the upcoming FUKUSHIMA 50 (?????????, Fukushima Fifuti, 2020). Masami Nagasawa played one of Mothra`s twin fairies in both GODZILLA: TOKYO SOS (???×???×????? ??SOS, Gojira x Mosura x Mekagojira T?ky? Esu ? Esu, 2003) and GODZILLA: FINAL WARS (??? ?????????, Gojira Fainaru W?zu, 2004), and was the female lead in Shinji Higuchi`s HIDDEN FORTRESS: THE LAST PRINCESS (??????? THE LAST PRINCESS, Kakushitoride no Sanakunin: Za Rasuto Purinsesu, 2008). Additional credits include FROM UP ON POPPY HILL (???????, Kokuriko-zaka Kara, 2011), OUR LITTLE SISTER (??diary, Umimachi Diary, 2015), YOUR NAME (?????, Kimi no Na wa., 2016), GOOD MORNING SHOW (???????????, Guddo M?ningu Sh?, 2016) and BLEACH (????, Bur?chi, 2018). Hidetoshi Nishijima has acted in CASSHERN (??????, Kyash?n, 2004), THE WIND RISES (????, Kaze Tachinu, 2013), CREEPY (???????????, Kur?p? Itsuwari no Rinjin, 2016) and PENGUIN HIGHWAY (??????????, Pengin Haiuei, 2018). He recently voiced Pikachu in the Japanese dub of DETECTIVE PIKACHU (2019). CREDITS Producer and Screenwriter: Hideaki Anno Director: Shinji Higuchi Starring: Takumi Saito, Masami Nagasawa, Hidetoshi Nishijima Presented by: Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd., Toho Co., Ltd., khara, Inc. Producetion Companies: Toho Pictures, Cine Bazar Distributor: Toho Co., Ltd

About Tsuburaya Productions

Tsuburaya Productions, creator and copyrights owner of the superhero ULTRAMAN series was founded in 1963 by Eiji Tsuburaya, world-renowned special effects wizard also known for his special effects work on the Godzilla series. With more than fifty years` experience, it is one of Japan`s oldest and most respected independent film and television production houses. Its popular Ultraman TV and film series which premiered in 1966 has been seen in over 100 territories worldwide and has spawned over 3,000 licensed products. In addition to production, the company also handles character licensing and program distribution and staging live stage shows both domestically and internationally.