The production committee of the upcoming film Puella Magi Madoka Magica Walpurgisnacht: Rising has announced that the movie will be delayed by almost a year.
Originally slated for a winter 2024 release, the film is now scheduled to premiere in winter 2025.
In a statement issued on Aug 16, 2024, the committee explained that the movie was being delayed due to production circumstances, though specifics were not mentioned. Checkout the translation of their statement below.
“Due to production circumstances, we have decided to change the release date of Puella Magi Madoka Magica Walpurgisnacht: Rising as follows: from winter 2024 to winter 2025. We sincerely apologize to everyone who has been looking forward to this film. We are continuing our efforts to deliver a better work. We kindly ask for your understanding.“
Despite the delay, it was confirmed that new information about the movie will be revealed during the Aniplex Online Festival which will take place on Sep 16, 2024.
Walpurgisnacht: Rising is a sequel to the previous movie Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Rebellion.
The film will see the return of key staff members from Rebellion at studio SHAFT.
Akiyuki Shimbo serves as chief director, with Yukihiro Miyamoto directing. The script is penned by Gen Urobuchi of Nitroplus, while aokiume is responsible for character design, adapted for animation by Junichiro Taniguchi. Yuki Kajiura returns as composer, and Gekidan Inu Curry will once again design the Witches’ Spaces.
The original cast is also set to reprise their roles, continuing from the third film.
A first look for the movie was released back in September 2023. Check it out below:
Puella Magi Madoka Magica is a Japanese anime television series created by Magica Quartet and animated by Shaft.
The series follows a group of middle school girls, led by protagonist Madoka Kaname, who make supernatural contracts to become magical girls who battle witches.
The anime originally aired in 2011, consisting of a single 12-episode season. It was followed by a film series, including Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Beginnings, Eternal, and Rebellion. The first two movies are recaps of the anime, with Rebellion essentially continuing the story from there.
The series has since become a highly influential and critically acclaimed work within the magical girl genre.
An alternate anime adaptation based on the mobile game of the series was released in 2020 titled Magia Records.
Source: Official Madoka Magica website.