Kamen Rider Celebrates 55 Years with New Film “Agito Psychic War”
The legendary Japanese superhero franchise, Kamen Rider, is preparing to celebrate its 55th anniversary in 2026. To commemorate this historic moment, the Kamen Rider Movie Project was officially announced with the main work titled "Agito Psychic War".
The film, adapted from the Kamen Rider Agito (2001) series, is scheduled to be released simultaneously in Japanese cinemas on April 29, 2026.
The project announcement was accompanied by the launch of visual teasers, special trailers, and comments from the cast and producers. This film marks the beginning of the celebration of more than half a century of Kamen Rider’s journey.
Tradition of Kamen Rider Anniversary Works
Throughout its history, the Kamen Rider franchise has often presented special works to mark important years:
- 45th anniversary (2016): Kamen Rider 1, starring Hiroshi Fujioka.
- 50th anniversary (2021-2023): Three major projects; Shin Kamen Rider (Hideaki Anno), Kamen Rider BLACK SUN (Prime Video), and the Fuuto PI anime series.
Why Was Kamen Rider Agito Chosen?
Ten days before the official announcement, eleven candidate titles were revealed, sparking widespread speculation among fans. The final choice fell on Kamen Rider Agito, the 2001 series that recorded the highest ratings in the Heisei era (average 11.7%) and became a major turning point for the franchise. This series is also known as the first to bring theatrical films in the Heisei era.
Agito Psychic War takes a bold approach by removing the phrase “Kamen Rider” from its title. The film is conceived as a non-traditional project for adult audiences, featuring large-scale psychic action.
Synopsis: A World on the Brink of Evolution and Chaos
The story is set in a world where humans begin to awaken psychic powers one by one. Chaos spreads as some misuse these abilities for evil. Amid the crisis, a police officer without special powers, Makoto Hikawa (played by Jun Kaname), rises to fight. As an honest man who believes in justice, Hikawa becomes the center of intense human drama and psychic action.
The visual teaser shows a striking image of a damaged Kamen Rider Gills helmet, accompanied by the tagline “Humanity Awakens.” In the trailer, a strong message appears: “When humans gain power, they become monsters,” showing glimpses of people with psychic abilities plunging the world into chaos. The determined expressions of Makoto Hikawa and Shoichi Tsugami (the main character from the original series) are highlighted.
The trailer ends with the message: “55th Anniversary of Kamen Rider - Kamen Rider Chronicle Begins,” hinting at a new chapter in the franchise.
Official Synopsis
“Half frozen, half burned. Two opposing forms of death engraved on one body. An impossible crime beyond human understanding. The Special Unit for Countering Unidentified Living Creatures (G-Unit) moves to investigate. However, the man who should be on the front line, Makoto Hikawa, is missing. As fate begins to move, a new evolution quietly begins.”
Cast List
- Jun Kaname
- Toko Fujita
- Jun Yamazaki
- Akiyoshi Shibata
- Takeshi Masu
- Rina Akiyama
- Tokimasa Tanabe
- Takanori Higuchi
- Toshiki Kashu
With a mature concept and strong legacy, Agito Psychic War is not just a sequel but an adult reinterpretation promising an epic battle between human evolution and the principle of justice. This film is ready to become a new milestone in the “Kamen Rider Chronicle” that begins on this 55th anniversary.
