The live-action movie series Kingdom, based on the manga by Yasuhisa Hara, will return with its fifth installment in Summer 2026. The news came with the release of a new teaser image for the film. It shows the main character, Shin, in armor with the words, “Accepting the will, and moving forward.”
The Kingdom films have become one of Japan’s most successful live-action franchises. The first movie, simply titled Kingdom, opened in April 2019 and went on to earn over ¥5.73 billion (roughly $53.2 million USD). Since then, the series also released:
- Kingdom 2: Far and Away was released in July 2022 and brought in ¥5.16 billion at the Japanese box office.
- Kingdom 3: The Flame of Destiny followed in July 2023, continuing the story of Shin’s rise.
- Kingdom 4: Return of the Great General hit theaters in July 2024 and marked a major turning point in the story.
You can see the new visual below.To celebrate the announcement of the fifth movie, a sneak peek of the upcoming sequel will be shown after the broadcast of The Return of the Great General on Japan’s Friday Road Show tonight, July 11. The program starts at 7:56 PM—one hour earlier than usual—and the film will air uncut.
To celebrate the announcement of the fifth movie, a sneak peek of the upcoming sequel will be shown after the broadcast of The Return of the Great General on Japan’s Friday Road Show tonight, July 11. The creator, Yasuhisa Hara, commented:
“The live-action adaptation of Kingdom, once said to be impossible, finally came to life in the 13th year of the manga’s serialization. I never imagined it would become such a long-running film series. Although there’s still much I can’t reveal, I believe this new installment will surpass the previous four in intensity, excitement, and emotion. Please look forward to it!”
Lead actor Kento Yamazaki, who plays Shin, also commented:
“When I heard about the sequel, I was thrilled. There’s still so much amazing content left in the original manga. I’m also very excited to finally share the news with everyone. I’m deeply grateful for all the people who’ve told me they watched Kingdom. I want to carry on the spirit left behind by General Ouki, played by Mr. Osawa, and lead everyone forward. Let’s welcome another hot summer with an even more epic Kingdom!”
Director Shinsuke Sato:
“Kingdom is coming back. Five years have passed since we shot The Return of the Great General, and now the same team is reuniting. We’ve continued to tackle what many said couldn’t be visualized, growing through challenge and perseverance, just like Shin and the Hi-Shin Unit. We’ve always pushed forward with a single unwavering belief, like Ei Sei himself. This journey continues. We’ve been working on this project in absolute secrecy, even from those close to us. We’re bringing you a truly unique world you can experience nowhere else. Look forward to it.”
Producer Shinzo Matsuhashi added:
“The Kingdom team poured everything into making The Return of the Great General. Creating a sequel means taking on the nearly impossible challenge of surpassing that height. But like Shin, who was entrusted with the glaive by General Ouki, we must keep moving forward. This team has always taken on the impossible. Believing that many people are waiting for this next challenge, we’re announcing the sequel with the visual of a now-armored, stronger, and more mature Shin. There’s still much we can’t say, but rest assured it’s going to be incredible. Please look forward to it!”
VIZ Media will begin releasing the manga in English in Fall 2025, coinciding with the upcoming premiere of Season 6 of the anime in October.
Source: Comic Natalie
Participate In Discussions