Netflix has released a new official teaser image from its upcoming animated superhero film Ultraman: Rising.
Released as part of Netflix’s Geeked Week, the new Ultraman: Rising still shows the eponymous hero peering through a window while in his giant form. Per an official synopsis, the animated film centers on “baseball superstar Ken Sato,” who “returns home to Japan to pick up the mantle of Earth-defending superhero Ultraman.” However, Ken “quickly finds more than he bargained for as he’s forced to raise the offspring of his greatest foe.”
Check out the teaser image for Ultraman: Rising below:
Shannon Tindle helms Ultraman: Rising alongside co-director John Aoshima. Tindle also co-wrote the film with Marc Haimes. Tom Knott and Lisa M. Poole serve as producers.
Tindle began developing Ultraman: Rising all the way back in 2001. Originally, it wasn’t actually going to be an Ultraman movie — but rather, an original film simply inspired by the Ultraman mythos. Tindle sold the project to an unnamed studio in 2015, though that iteration never came to fruition.
Once Netflix got involved, the streaming giant floated the idea of making the movie an actual licensed Ultraman release. Netflix flew Tindle out to Tokyo, where he pitched the film to Tsuburaya — which owns the Ultraman IP. The company loved the pitch and gave Tindle and Netflix the green light. Netflix officially announced Ultraman: Rising in 2021.
Ultraman is a Japanese icon
Ultraman first appeared on Japanese television in 1966. Over the years, the character has gone through many iterations and starred in countless TV shows, films, and videos games. In addition to a long-running manga series, Ultraman has also starred in American comic books published by the likes of Harvey Comics, Dark Horse Comics, and — most recently — Marvel Comics.
Ultraman: Rising is expected to premiere on Netflix in 2024.
