KAMEN RIDER BLACK SUN Rises to Amazon Prime Worldwide
Tokusatsu fans need no introduction to the Showa era Kamen Rider smash hits, Kamen Rider Black and Kamen Rider Black RX. As a surprise project, as part of the 50th anniversary of Kamen Rider, a reboot film named Kamen Rider Black Sun, was announced, with many details slowly being shared. Now, with an exciting and intriguing new trailer, Black Sun will make an explosive, international debut via Amazon Prime Video, exclusively.
In Kamen Rider Black, step-brothers Kotaro Minami and Nobuhiko Akuzuki are kidnapped by the Gorgom Cult, with the intent of subjecting them to a cyborg surgery. The goal is to transform them into candidates for the next “Gorgom Creation King” but before he can be brainwashed, Kotaro escapes, retaining the cyborg powers that transform him in to “Black Sun”, a buglike superhuman cyborg. Taking on the name Kamen Rider Black, Kotaro dedicates himself to stopping Gorgom, and rescuing his step-brother. With it’s darker story and surprising twists, Black eventually spawned a sequel, and the two series remain beloved staples of the Showa era of Tokusatsu.
Coming to Amazon Prime Video on October 28, Black Sun is a story reboot, similar to Kamen Rider Amazons (also available on Prime Video under the title “Amazon Riders” in the US), with a new story inspired by the original show.
In an alternate 2022, the government has acknowledged and made public the existence of Kaijin; supernatural creatures who take a human form. They are oppressed in the human dominant society, and it leads to regular clashes and violence. The trailer features a sampling of some of the kaijin that will appear, of the bloody action that Amazons and to some extent Shin Kamen Rider made popular in the Showa reboot films, and an intense first encounter with Kotaro, played by Hidetoshi Nishijima.
Nishijima previously appeared in the internationally acclaimed Drive My Car, as well as Shin Ultraman (reviewed by myself here, it’s worth a watch) as Kimio Tamura, the leader of the SSSP. From my experience with Shin Ultraman, Hishijima is definitely a great fit for the tough as nails Kotaro.
The film is written by Izumi Takahashi (Tokyo Revengers), and concept visuals come care of Shinji Higuchi (Godzilla [84], Shin Godzilla). SFX director Kiyotaka Taguchi is also more than fit for the job, leading the action for several Ultraman series. Longtime Executive Producer for Rider, Shinichiro Shirakura, again takes the reigns as EP for Black Sun.
I’m beyond excited for this film, and the fact that it’s coming out worldwide is a great sign. In an interview with Variety, Shirakura has said that the Marvel Cinematic Universe could be a potential model for international expansion plans, and I for one am here for a world where the bad guys get Rider Kicked on the big screen.
Kamen Rider Black Sun’s latest trailer is below. Will you be watching when it releases?