David Bridges
Highlights
- Release Date: Scarlet is now set to arrive in early 2026 for North American audiences.
- Film Festivals: The movie will screen at major film festivals in Venice, Toronto, and New York before its release.
- Plot Overview: The story follows a young princess seeking revenge after witnessing her father’s murder.
- International Release: Sony’s international subsidiary will manage the film’s release in other territories.
Mortal Kombat II isn’t the only movie leaving 2025. Scarlet, the next film from Studio Chizu and anime director Mamoru Hosoda, is now arriving in early 2026 for North American audiences.
Sony’s opted to push the film out of its initial December 12 slot. It’s still expected to release on November 21 in Japan and screen at film festivals in Venice, Toronto, and New York through their respective film festivals in early September and early October. The press release calls these festival screenings “qualifying runs,” which may help explain the delay: previous Hosoda films have won local and international awards and get well-received by critics, making it look more enticing to audiences.
First announced this past April, Scarlet centers on the titular young princess who escapes across time and space after witnessing her father’s murder. After her first go at revenge ends in failure, she winds up in the Land of the Dead, a limbo for those who fail in their quests for payback. But Scarlet’s not giving up just yet, and she crosses paths with a modern-day man named Hijiri.
For those living outside North America and Japan, Sony’s international subsidiary will handle the film’s release in other territories. But like with North America, there’s no hard date for the film in those territories quite yet—expect to wait a while before we hear or see more from the film.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
Daniel Mercer
