Fans of Mamoru Hosoda eagerly anticipate the delayed North American premiere of his latest cinematic masterpiece. The anime film, Scarlet, was originally set to hit U.S. theaters on December 12, 2025, but has now been rescheduled for an early 2026 release. Despite the delay, the movie will still secure an awards-qualifying run in North America this year.
Sony Pictures announced the updated premiere date on Monday, revealing that Studio Chizu and director Hosoda’s eagerly awaited feature will be distributed by Sony Pictures Classics in North America. Internationally, Sony Pictures Releasing will oversee the film’s rollout, operating under the Columbia Pictures banner. The delay allows the film to make waves at key film festivals before its wide release.
The Japanese premiere will take place in November, coinciding with its international festival appearances. Scarlet opens in Japan on November 21. The movie begins its festival tour with the world premiere at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, featuring five screenings on September 4-5. Following Venice, the Toronto International Film Festival will present the North American premiere as a Special Presentation. The festivities will include four screenings on September 10-12. Additionally, the New York Film Festival will show the movie in two screenings on October 7-8.
According to Sony Pictures, Scarlet is directed and scripted by Hosoda. He studies current animation trends but boasts an autonomy philosophy: “Scarlet is not made with 2D animation nor Hollywood-style CG.” He strives for an entirely new aesthetic, implementing action and romance elements that diverge from his past works. The narrative is inspired by a “global classic.”
Mana Ashida stars as the leading character, Princess Scarlet, and Masaki Okada portrays the role of Hijiri, a nurse from contemporary Japan. The film’s cast includes characters with names borrowed from William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, known for their diverse roles and connections to the plot’s broader themes of revenge and redemption. The global classic they refer to from the Divine Comedy, written by Italian poet Dante Aligheri. Protagonist Scarlet journeys beyond works published by Shakespeare such as Titus Andronicus, Hamlet, etc. It is scheduled for release in Japan by TOHO and internationally by Sony Pictures.
© 2025 スタジオ地図 
- Sony Pictures
- Studio Chizu
- Mamoru Hosoda
The film’s producer, Yuichiro Suto, confirms broader distribution, highlighting global partners across the film’s production and release stages. While past films like The Girl Who Leap Through Time launched during summer, this winter debut marks a new strategic shift. Honda’s Scarlet is set to be another brilliant masterpiece based on stunning visuals that take story telling beyond effect.
News Source: Animenewsnetwork.com
