Mamoru Hosoda’s Upcoming Film Scarlet Delayed To Early 2026

By Elijah Gonzalez | August 29, 2025 | 10:30am

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Mamoru Hosoda’s Upcoming Film Scarlet Delayed To Early 2026

Mamoru Hosoda’s upcoming film Scarlet has been delayed from a December 12 release date in North America to an unspecified time in early 2026. It will still be getting its international premiere at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival and will also be coming to the Toronto International Film Festival and the New York Film Festival later this year. It’s set to release in Japan on November 21.

Sony didn’t provide clarification for why the film was being moved back in their press release, but it did announce that Sony Pictures Classics (SPC) will be taking over distribution. SPC is the company’s label focused on independent and arthouse films, and has promoted several movies that won Academy Awards and nominations, like Whiplash, Call Me By Your Name, I’m Still Here, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and more.

It’s possible that Sony switched Scarlet from Sony Pictures to its SPC label as part of a push for awards season, and the press release specified that it will have “a qualifying run” this year, meaning it will meet the necessary screening prerequisites.

Mamoru Hosoda is one of the most acclaimed anime directors working today and previously received a nomination for Best Animated Feature Film at the 91st Academy Awards for his 2018 film Mirai. He once again collaborated on his latest project alongside Studio Chizu, which he co-founded.

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The press release offers the following plot synopsis for Scarlet: “From visionary Academy Award®-nominated filmmaker Mamoru Hosoda (MIRAI) comes a powerful, time-bending animated adventure about SCARLET, a medieval-era, sword fighting princess on a dangerous quest to avenge the death of her father. After failing at her mission and finding herself gravely injured in the Otherworld that exists somewhere between life and death, she encounters an idealistic young man from our present day who not only helps her to heal but shows her the possibility of a future free of bitterness and rage. When confronted again by her father’s killer, Scarlet faces her most daunting battle: can she break the cycle of hatred and find meaning in life beyond revenge?”

What this synopsis doesn’t mention is that the film seems to be inspired by Hamlet, as several of its characters—Claudius, Gertrude, Guildenstern, Rosencrantz, etc.—share names with those from Shakespeare’s play. Both stories are also are about a character whose father, the king, is killed by a scheming uncle.

First impressions of the film should be coming soon after it screens at the Venice International Film Festival on September 4 and 5.