Monster Zero x SciFi Japan - Archive Only

Sponichi Annex reports:

Pop singer Hiroshi Nagano (35), the star of ULTRAMAN TIGA will be reprising his role as Daigo, the human form of Ultraman Tiga, in a new feature film produced by Tsuburaya Productions, which will be released in Japanese cinemas, next fall. Nagano last appeared as Daigo in the 2000 film, ULTRAMAN TIGA: THE FINAL ODYSSEY. The ULTRAMAN TIGA television series first debuted on TBS in 1996 ( the series was briefly aired in the US as part of Fox's "Fox Box" children's line up in 2000, and is now available on DVD from Funimation).

"It's been eight years since Daigo transformed into Tiga," commented Nagano at a recent press conference announcing the new film, "I hope that I will be still able to transform properly for the audience, since it's been so long." Other Ultramen who have returned in their later days to transform again, include the original Ultraman, Susumu Kurobe (67), who appeared in last year's ULTRAMAN MOEBIUS & THE ULTRA BROTHERS, as a senior to the new Ultraman. In the 41 year history of the Ultra Series, the oldest actor to first take the role was 27 year old Yusuke Kirishima, who starred in ULTRAMAN NEXUS (2004).

The new film, entitled DECISIVE BATTLE! THE 8 SUPER ULTRA BROTHERS (Daikessen! Cho Urutora Hachi Urutora Kyodai), as you can guess by the title, will feature eight different Ultramen, but who exactly, besides Ultraman Tiga, are not being revealed at this time. An original Ultra Series alumni, Ultraman movie producer, Kiyoshi Suzuki enthusiastically stated, "In recent years, we have pretty much ignored the mythology of the Heisei Ultras, while we have been concentrating on returning to the Ultra Brothers of the Showa Era. Now, we will bring them both together for the first time."

(Article posted on October 17, 2007 [Japan Time], translation by August Ragone.)

Thanks, I had to wait until the story went out on the Japanese news services. It would be cool to see Nexus in a film with some of the other Ultramen. But, realistically, I think we can expect a team up between the Tiga, Dyna and Gaia, and five of the Ultra Brothers (including Moebius). But, only time will tell...

I was going to post this earlier today, but I had a dental appointment. So, Here's an abbreviated version before I leave for work:



The mayor of Yokohama City, Hiroshi Nakata (left) and Tsuburaya Productions CEO, Kazuo Tsuburaya (right), strike the Spacium Ray pose with some of the Ultramen who will appear in the upcoming DECISIVE BATTLE! THE SUPER 8 ULTRA BROTHERS, hitting Japanese cinema screens next fall. Clockwise, Ultraman, Ultraman Ace, Ultraman Tiga, Ultraman Jack, and Ultra Seven.

Mayor Nakata and the city of Yokohama are lending unprecedented cooperation with the location shooting for the upcoming 500,000,000 Yen production (approximately $4,300,000 USD), which will commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the founding of the city of Yokohama -- one of the most famous port cities in the world (including Vancouver and San Diego). Some of the notable sites of Yokohama which will be featured during the battle between the Ultramen and the opposing Monster Army, will include Yokohama Stadium, Chinatown, Old Town Shopping District, Three Valley Gardens, and Red Brick Row.

Location shooting begins this month through November, and production on the film is scheduled to wrap in May 2008. Meanwhile, accepting applications for extras is being handled by the Yokohama Film Commission starting October 18th via their website http://www.welcome.city.yokohama.jp/film/

Kazuo Tsuburaya stated at the press conference, "With this team up of Ultra Brothers, we want to emphasize the meaning of courage and belief. This film also calls for the wish to create a better and brighter society for the future." Tsuburaya Productions is touting DECISIVE BATTLE! THE SUPER 8 ULTRA BROTHERS will feature the "Greatest climatic battle ever seen!"

Paraphrased from a report in the Yokohama City News, and translated by August Ragone

(BTW, thanks for posting that link to the official site, Kiryu!)

I saw the picture of Tiga alongside 4 of the first generation of Ultramen. The first Ultraman guest star in an episode of Tiga, so it won't be the first time that Tiga has worked with a first generation Ultraman.