Source: Shochiku Co., Ltd., Tsuburaya Productions Official Site: m-78.jp/geed/movie (Japan)
Tsuburaya Productions has provided information and high-res images for their upcoming theatrical feature based on the ULTRAMAN GEED (?????????, Urutoraman Jiido, 2017) television series. In ULTRAMAN GEED THE MOVIE, the titular hero teams up with Ultraman Zero, Ultraman Orb and Orb`s sometime friend/sometime foe Juggrus Juggler against an alien force threatening intelligent life across the universe. Geed also takes on a new form -- Ultimate Final -- and wields a powerful new weapon, the Giga Finalizer. The film is directed by Koichi Sakamoto, lead director on the ULTRAMAN GEED series. A former action director and executive producer on the American POWER RANGERS franchise, Sakamoto made his directing debut in Japan with MEGA MONSTER BATTLE ULTRA GALAXY: THE MOVIE (?????? ???????? THE MOVIE, Daikaiju Batoru Urutora Ginga Densetsu THE MOVIE, 2009). Sakamoto`s credits include the Ultraman, Kamen Rider and Super Sentai television franchises plus the feature films ZYUDEN SENTAI KYORYUGER THE MOVIE: GABURINCHO OF MUSIC (??? ????????????? ????????????????, Gekijoo-ban Juu-den Sentai Kyouryuujaa Gaburincho Obu Myuujikku, 2013), 009-1 THE END OF THE BEGINNING (009?1(????????) THE END OF THE BEGINNING, Zero Zero Nain Wan the End of the Beginning, 2013), KYORYUGER VS GO-BUSTERS (??????????????????????????????????????, Juuden Sentai Kyooryuujaa tai Goobasutaazu: Kyooryuu Daikessen! Saraba Eien no Tomo yo, 2014), ULTRAMAN GINGA S THE MOVIE (??? ?????????? ??! ????10??!!, Gekijoo-ban Urutoraman Ginga S Kessen! Urutora 10 Yuushi!!, 2015) and KAMEN RIDER EX-AID & GHOST WITH LEGEND RIDERS (??????????????????Dr.???????????&???? with ?????????, Kamen Raidaa Heisei Jenereeshonzu Dr. Pakkuman Tai Eguzeido & Goosuto Uizu Rejendo Raidaa, 2016). In 2017 he directed the mini-series ULTRAFIGHT ORB (??????????? ????????????) featuring Ultraman Orb, Ultra Seven and Ultraman Zero.
Several cast members from the ULTRAMAN GEED series return for the movie, including Tatsuomi Hamada as Geed`s human alter-ego Riku Asakura, Chihiro Yamamoto as Laiha Toba, Mayu Hasegawa as Moa Aizaki, and Yuta Ozawa as Ultraman Zero`s human host, Leito Igaguri. They are joined by actress Yuika Motokariya, playing a Okinawan tour guide with a mysterious past. "I was surprised [to be offered the role]! It`s very wonderful and an honor," she said. Motokariya is a film and television veteran with credits that include such popular works as SWING GIRLS (?????????, Suwingu Garuzu, 2004), FIGHT (????, Faito, 2005), PARTNERS: THE MOVIE (??-???- ?????42.195km ????????????, Aibo Gekijoo-ban: Zettai zetsumei! 42.195km Tokyo Biggu Shiti Marason, 2008), DROP (????, Doropu, 2009) and PEACH GIRL (??????, Pichi Garu, 2017), but ULTRAMAN GEED THE MOVIE is her first tokusatsu film. Asked about dealing with the special effects, she replied, "At the beginning I felt strange. But, while imagining a monster that I hadn`t yet seen, I just acted like I was scared. It was a very good experience and I`m grateful for it." The movie`s theme song will be performed by May J., a multilingual artist of Japanese and Iranian heritage. She made her major label debut with the mini-album "ALL MY GIRLS" in 2006. In 2014 she sang "Let It Go" for the Japanese release of Disney`s FROZEN. In January of the following year she performed in concert at the famed Nippon Budokan.
May J. stated that, "I think that Ultraman, who has charmed people for generations, will always represent Japan. And this time I will be able to sing Ultraman`s song, and I am honored with feelings I can`t believe. I remember watching Ultraman on TV when I was small, and I gave an Ultraman figure to a friend when I was in elementary school I feel that Ultraman`s strength and kindness give courage to women as well as men. I would like to sing a song that will deliver smiles to a lot of people, just like Ultraman has done." Distributor Shochiku will release ULTRAMAN GEED THE MOVIE at the Shinjuku Piccadilly and other cinemas across Japan on Saturday, March 10, 2018. Advance tickets are now on sale at theaters nationwide, and can also be purchased at Ultraman events and official memorabilia shops. Customers who buy the Parent-Child Pair will receive a free special card for the Ultraman Fusion Fight! game and a limited edition Ocean Blue Clear Ver. Geed Primitive finger puppet, while supplies last. STORY Awaken! The strongest gene!! As the moment of extinction approaches, the power of "wishes" brings a further evolution to Geed! From the depths of space, the giant artificial brain Gilbaris -- who destroys any intelligent life forms it encounters -- approaches the Earth with the Galactron army. Ultraman Geed/Riku Asakura (Tatsuomi Hamada) is told by Juggrus Juggler (Takaya Aoyagi) that Gilbaris is coming to Earth to get "red steel". Riku heads to the South Seas paradise of Okinawa to uncover more information about red steel. There he meets Airu Higa (Yuika Motokariya), a tour guide and historian with her own agenda. Sensing that Riku is an Ultraman, Airu tries to recruit him for an important mission. Gai Kurenai/Ultraman Orb (Hideo Ishiguro) also appears in Okinawa out of his overwhelming need to protect the Earth. As the Galactron army launches an attack on Okinawa, Geed and Orb are joined by Ultraman Zero in an effort to repel the invaders. But the immature Geed refuses to stick to their mission, and his actions imperil both the Ultramen and the Earth. Can Ultraman Geed find his way and withstand Gilbaris` terrifying power...?
CREDITS Official English Title: ULTRAMAN GEED THE MOVIE Japanese Title: ??? ????????? ????! ??!! (Gekijoo-ban Urutoraman Jiido Tsunagu ze! Negai!!) Literal Translation: Ultraman Geed The Movie: Connect Them! The Wishes!! Japanese Theatrical Release: Saturday, March 10, 2018 (Nationwide Roadshow) Running Time: 70 Minutes
Cast Riku Asakura/Ultraman Geed (Voice): Tatsuomi Hamada Laiha Toba: Chihiro Yamamoto Moa Aizaki: Mayu Hasegawa Leito Igaguri: Yuta Ozawa Airu Higa: Yuika Motokariya Fran-Saterna: Kai Shishido Alien Jaki Aron: Jackie Juggrus Juggler: Takaya Aoyagi Gai Kurenai/Ultraman Orb (Voice): Hideo Ishiguro Gilbaris (Voice): Katsuyuki Konishi Alien Pegassa Pega (Voice): Megumi Han RE.M. (Voice): Suzuko Mimori Alien Shadow Zena (Voice): Shintaro Asanuma Ultraman Zero (Voice): Mamoru Miyano Mirror Knight (Voice): Hikaru Midorikawa Jean-bot (Voice): Hiroshi Kamiya Glenfire (Voice): Tomokazu Seki Jean-Nine (Voice): Miyu Irino Zoffy (Voice): Hideyuki Tanaka Mother of Ultra (Voice): Masako Ikeda Father of Ultra (Voice): Tokuma Nishioka Staff Director: Koichi Sakamoto Screenplay: Toshizo Nemoto Screenplay Assistance: Hirotaka Adachi Supervisor: Shinichi Ooka Chief Producer: Tsugumi Kitaura Producer: Yukinobu Tsuruta Cinematography: Takeshi Arai Lighting: Hiromichi Takeyama Art Director: Taro Kiba Editor: Yosuke Yafune Recording: Fujimaru Kazunori Action Coordinator: Daisuke Terai Casting: Yumiko Kuga, Kazumasa Shimada VFX: Tomoaki Miwa Music: Kenji Kawai Theme Song: May J. Production Support: Okinawa Prefecture Filming Cooperation: OCVB OKINAWA Production: “Ultraman Geed The Movie” Film Partners Distribution: Shochiku Media Division World Sales: Tsuburaya Productions © 2018 “Ultraman Geed The Movie” Film Partners Advance Ticket Prices Adult: ¥1,600 / Child: ¥900 Parent-Child Pair: ¥2,200 Related Sites ?TV Series Official Website: http://ani.tv/geed/ ?Movie Official Website: https://m-78.jp/geed/movie/ ?Official Twitter: https://twitter.com/m78_ulden/ ?Official Hashtag: #????????? ?Movie Official Hashtag: #????????????
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.