The "Kamen Rider 55th Anniversary Announcement Event," which announced future developments and new projects for the "Kamen Rider" series, which celebrates its 55th anniversary this year, was held in Tokyo on April 3rd. It was announced that a completely new V-Cinema sequel to "Kamen Rider Kabuto" (2006-07), titled "Kamen Rider Kabuto 20th: The One Who Inherits the Heavens," will be produced.
"Kamen Rider Kabuto" is a story about Kamen Rider Kabuto/Tendo Souji (Hiro Mizushima), "the man who walks the path of heaven and controls all," and his battles against "Worms," extraterrestrial life forms that mimic humans, and "ZECT," a secret organization that fights against the Worms. All 49 episodes were broadcast on TV Asahi from January 2006 to January 2007. Even now, 20 years after its broadcast, it still enjoys strong popularity, and it came in first place in the fan vote for the "Kamen Rider Movie Project" held this January.
Toei Video's chief producer, Takeshi Nakano, introduced the cast and staff from the TV series, saying, "The cast and staff from the TV series have gathered." It was announced that Yuki Sato will play Kamen Rider Gatack/Arata Kagami, Hidenori Tokuyama will play Kamen Rider TheBee/Sou Kazuki Kato, Kazuki Kato will play Kamen Rider Drake/Daisuke Kazama, Tomohisa Yuge will play Masato Mishima, Yoshiyuki Yamaguchi will play Shuichi Tadokoro, and Hirotaro Honda will play Riku Kagami. It was also announced that Shoji Yonemura will write the script and Hidenori Ishida will direct.
Sato, who plays Kagami, also took the stage and introduced the story, saying, "It takes place 20 years after the previous battle. Humanity has been living in coexistence with the Worms, but ZECT has secretly developed the Masked Rider System, and Mishima Masato, as the qualified person, comes into contact with a great figure. Will it be the Rider or the Worm who inherits the 'Heaven'?" He said that the work is already complete and appealed to the audience by saying, "I can say this because I have seen it, it is interesting. The passion is still there. It is a work that we can deliver with real confidence." It has not been announced whether Mizushima will appear in this work, but as he left the stage he shouted, "Wait for me, Tendo!"
"Kamen Rider Kabuto 20th: The Successor to Heaven" will be screened for a limited time at Shinjuku Wald 9 (Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo) and other theaters as part of Toei's "V-Cinema Next" label, and will be released on Blu-ray Disc (BD) and DVD on February 10, 2027.
