Lupin the 3rd: The First is plotting a 2020 theatrical release after a GKIDS acquisition on Thursday. The latest gentleman thief feature comes from writer-director Takashi Yamazaki (Stand by Me Doraemon, Dragon Quest: Your Story) and will launch in North America and Japan in both sub and dub.
This time around, Lupin and his pals are out to claim the Bresson Diary, which can apparently be used by a dark cabal to resurrect the Third Reich. It’s honestly nothing new for the five decade old thief. In the time since his original creation as a manga character, the Lupin’s been featured in five different anime series, several films, including Hayao Miyazaki’s take with Castle of Cagliostro.
GKIDS’ PR is confident that the movie will hit theaters this year – but is unclear about specifics, which is probably safe given how many films are being pushed back in the wake of COVID-19.
Here’s the official Lupin the 3rd: The First synopsis:
The iconic “gentleman thief” Lupin III returns in an action-packed, continent-spanning adventure, as Lupin III and his colorful underworld companions race to uncover the secrets of the mysterious Bresson Diary, before it falls into the hands of a dark cabal that will stop at nothing to resurrect the Third Reich. The gang undertakes trap-filled tombs, aerial escapades and daring prison escapes with the trademark wit and visual finesse that have made LUPIN THE 3RD one of the most storied animation franchises in the world, in a thrilling new caper that is sure to delight fans old and new.
And you can check out the trailer below.