Season 3 of the Japanese anime “Sword Art Online” has been reported to come out next year but it seems unlikely now as the movie version of the franchise, entitled “Sword Art Online: Ordinal Scale” has been confirmed to be released on February 18, 2017.
It was anime film’s publisher Kadokawa, who confirmed on October 3 the official release date of the “Sword Art Online” animated movie.
More importantly, the movie shall hit 1,000 cinemas when it comes out early next year, indicative of how popular and successful the franchise has become, reports News Everyday.
The film is said to be the sequel to the final arc in the anime. It takes place after the Mother’s Rosario Arc.
Its storyline was written by the original author of “Sword Art Online” light novel series, Reki Kawahara. It involves a new Augmented Reality Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game Ordinal or ARMMORPG, which Kirito and his friends are playing.
Accordingly, people were enjoying a new game called Ordinal Scale, but the players had no idea that a nightmare from the virtual world was starting to spread into reality. As his fellow players find themselves in danger, the hero is called upon once again, reports iTech Post.
Meanwhile, a trailer for “Sword Art Online” the movie has already been released featuring Kirito, Asuna, and friends.
Three new characters were also announced including Yuna, an idol in Ordinal Scale, who gives players special upgrades when they encounter her in-game; Dr. Shigemura, a professor and researcher of non-invasive brain-machine interface, whose peers think he’s crazy; and Eiji, a mysterious swordsman who is one of the top players in Ordinal Scale.
.
Agonizingly waiting for Season 3
It has already been a year since Season 2 of the Japanese anime “Sword Art Online” was shown and fans have been agonizingly waiting for its third season.
Previous reports were saying that the third season of “Sword Art Online” could happen next year but those were already shot down with current information saying that a live-action movie version of the series shall come out in Japanese theaters in the first half of 2017.
The movie shall reportedly be titled “Sword Art Online: Ordinal Scale” and its cast shall include Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, who shall play Kirito; Haruka Tomatsu, who shall play Azuna; Ayana Taketatsu who shall play Leafa; Kanae Itō, who shall play Yui; Rina Hidaka, who shall play Silica; Ayahi Takagaki, who shall play Lisbeth; Miyuki Sawashiro, who shall play Sinon; Hiroaki Hirata, who shall play Klein; and Kōichi Yamadera, who shall play Akihiko.
“Sword Art Online: Ordinal Scale” will be based on a new story arc written by Reki Kawahara and will revolve around Ordinal Scale, which is said to be the new virtual reality game that Kirito and Azuna will be involved in.
No more Season 3?
Because of the massive “Sword Art Online” projects happening next year, there are now speculations and insinuations saying that there could no longer be a Season 3 of the Japanese anime.
There are even reports saying that the movie “Sword Art Online: Ordinal Scale” shall actually serve as the continuation of Season 2 of “Sword Art Online.”
But until the Japanese producers of both the anime and the upcoming movie confirm or deny the reports, everything remains as speculation at this time.
In addition to the live-action movie about the franchise, there is also the upcoming live-action TV series that shall come out on Netflix also next year.
The Netflix live-action TV series shall be entirely different from the Japanese anime but it certainly hypes the excitement for Season 3 of “Sword Art Online.”
Reports also have that the live-action series on Netflix shall focus on American characters while dropping hints on what happened to the Japanese characters as well.