GKIDS has announced that it recently acquired the North American theatrical, home video, and EST rights to the final film in the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise.
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The film, Evangelion: 3.0 + 1.01 Thrice Upon a Time, is the fourth and final installment of the new theatrical Rebuild films in the Evangelion franchise, and was released in theaters in Japan in 2021. It dominated the box office, quickly becoming the second highest-grossing film of the year with ¥10.28 billion (~$85 million) at the local box office.
According to GKIDS, they plan to release the film in theaters in late 2022, which would mark the first time the film has been available in North American theaters since its release. After that, a release for home entertainment is planned, with exact dates for a release to follow.
Evangelion: 3.0 + 1.01 Thrice Upon a Time is meant to serve as the finale of what is known as the Rebuild of Evangelion series, a set of four films that serves as a retelling of the original Neon Genesis Evangelion anime series, with series creator Hideaki Anno serving as writer and general manager of the project. The film series uses updated animation, new scenes, and more, complete with an entirely new ending to the series that is found in the fourth film.
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“Shinji Ikari is still adrift after losing his will to live, but the place he arrives at teaches him what it means to hope,” reads the official synopsis for the fourth film. “Finally, the Instrumentality Project is set in motion and he will make one last grueling stand to prevent the Final Impact.”
