‘We Know the Urgency Is There’

Crunchyroll CEO Rahul Purini has provided an update on the release schedule for the next two installments of the Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle movie trilogy, noting that the company is working with a sense of “urgency” to deliver the upcoming films.

In a recent interview with Hollywood Reporter, Purini addressed the timeline for the highly successful trilogy’s next films. While the Crunchyroll CEO did not give any fixed timeline for the release, he admitted he was well aware of the urgency that existed among audiences for the sequel installments. “Well, we’ve announced that it will be a trilogy of movies, but our partners at Aniplex and Ufotable haven’t decided on dates yet,” Purini said. “But look, there’s definitely urgency for all of us to bring more Demon Slayer to fans as soon as we can — because we know the urgency is there among the fanbase.”

Crunchyroll CEO Talks ‘Urgency’ of Releasing Demon Slayer’s Upcoming Infinity Castle Films

The Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle movie has reportedly been in production for three and a half years, placing the start of its development sometime in early 2022, before the Swordsmith Village Arc even premiered. The decision to adapt the arc into a movie trilogy was made during the theatrical run of Mugen Train, indicating the finale has been in the planning stages for nearly five years.

Ufotable was able to cut down the time required for Infinity Castle‘s production to a more feasible period after initial estimates suggested it could take over a decade for the movie to roll out. The immense difficulty of recreating the ever-shifting Infinity Castle via 3DGC rendering initially pointed to a timeline the studio deemed “not too realistic.” To meet the deadline, Ufotable reportedly employed cutting-edge methods, including expanding its studio with high-speed machinery and adopting an “all hands on deck” approach. This allowed the first part of the trilogy to be released within a year of Hashira Training Arc airing. Based on this improved timeline, some fans have begun to speculate that the subsequent films could be released in 2027 and 2029.

Demon Slayer’s Next Infinity Castle Movies Will Be ‘As Amazing, If Not Better,’ Promises Crunchyroll Boss

Credit: Image via CBR

The urgency to deliver the next films is further fueled by the first movie’s record-shattering box office performance. The film generated an incredible US$70 million in its opening weekend alone in North America — a figure that surprised even Purini. “If there was anything surprising, it was how many fans turned up that first weekend,” he said. “We didn’t expect to hit $70 million within the first three days. Now we know there is going to be repeat viewing — the question is just how many times and how many people.”

The film’s success continued well beyond its opening, eventually becoming the highest-grossing anime film of all time in North America. It officially overtook Pokémon: The First Movie, which held the title for over two decades. At the time of writing, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle has a domestic gross of US$104.73 million. Looking ahead, Purini has assured fans that the quality will remain a top priority. “We’re working closely with our partners to make sure the next two movies are going to be just as amazing — if not better.”