At the end of the latest Super Sentai Taisen Z movie, a brief shot teased that Android Kikaider, another of Shotaro Ishinomori’s creations, was getting some form of reboot. Finally, the newest trailer for the upcoming movie has been released!!
The film is set in the near future, where Dr. Nobuhiko Komyoji is the head of the robot engineering project “ARK Project”, which was created to make robots that peacefully solve problems beyond human control. But when Dr. Komyoji finds out that ARK Project’s goal is different than he thought, he betrays the organization. They try to kill him using his own creation, Android Mary, but he escapes. ARK Project, thinking that Dr. Komyoji is dead, spreads the story that his death is due to an accident during an experiment. A year later, the project is headed by his rival, Kanzaki, and the Minister of Defense, Tsubakiya, who have begun to use the project for their own personal benefits rather than its original objective. ARK Project eventually finds out that Dr. Komyoji may still be alive, so they attack his children, trying to force his surrender. In their defense, a robot with Dr. Komyoji’s Conscience Circuit appears – Android Jiro / Kikaider – who reveals that his main mission is to protect the son and daughter of Dr. Komyoji, as well as the rest of humanity. More info coming soon!!
Above, you can see a side-by-side comparison of the Reboot Kikaider and Hakaider suits next to the originals. Quite the difference!
Jingi Irei from MEN ON STYLE is cast to play the role of Kikaider in the movie. Other MEN ON STYLE members who have worked in tokusatsu before include Sota Fukushi (Gentarou Kisaragi / Kamen Rider Fourze), Tasuku Nagase (Kousuke Nitou / Kamen Rider Beast), and Ryo Ryuusei (Daigo Kiryuu / Kyoryu Red).
Aimi Satsukawa is cast to play the role of Mitsuko Komyoji, the daughter of Dr. Komyoji.
Yuta Ikeda is cast to play the role of Masaru Komyoji, the younger brother of Mitsuko.
Hirotaro Honda is cast to play the role of Dr. Komyoji, the creator of Kikaider, Hakaider, and Android Mary, who is taken captive by ARK Project and forced to develop robots. Honda has previously portrayed Strategist Raider in Kamen Rider x Super Sentai x Space Sheriff: Super Hero Taisen Z.
Model Maryjun Takahashi is cast to play the role of Android Mary. Android Mary is actually Jinzo Ningen Bijinder, according to the original series. However, since she does not “Switch On” in the movie, she is only known as Android Mary. Maryjun Takahashi is also cast as Yumi Komagata in the upcoming Rurouni Kenshin movie.
Shingo Tsurumi, who has previously portrayed Mituaki Gamou (Sagittarius Zodiarts) in Kamen Rider Fourze, will appear as a developer of Hakaider.
Ryuji Harada will appear as news reporter who is working on the case of the missing Dr. Komyoji.
Baseball Player Kazushige Nagashima is going to play the role of a scientist who consults with the ARK Project about overriding the Kikaider System. He’s also one of the developers of Hakaider.
Both Jiros are set to appear, seen here with Irie Jingi (the Reboot Jiro) on the left and Daisuke Ban (the original Jiro) on the right. Daisuke Ban, who is also known for playing Inazuman, is going to make a cameo appearance in the movie as a character named Kyujiro Maneo, although it’s not yet clear what role this character will play.
A mysterious warrior is going to make his appearance in the Rider Battle – and that mysterious warrior’s outline looks suspiciously like Kikaider. It’s not clear whether it’s the original Kikaider or the Kikaider from REBOOT, however… sounds like there will be another crossover very soon!!
Share your thoughts on the reboot in the comments below!
Thanks to Joe “Rider Kick” Tonello for some extra info and to Ekala and Kitarin for editing!
Sources: http://kikaider.jp/, https://www.facebook.com/kikaiderRB
March 29, 2014 @ 11:00 am
…Not even one DARK Destructoid?
March 30, 2014 @ 5:23 pm
“Super Sentai Taisen Z”
Super HERO Taisen Z.