Veteran voice actor Maaya Sakamoto says series creator Hideaki Anno told her secret details about one of Neon Genesis Evangelion's most mysterious characters.
As reported by Kotaku, Sakamoto revealed during a press conference that she knows things about Mari that go beyond what has been revealed in any of the Evangelion movies. Hideaki Anno reportedly told the actor details about the character's mysterious origins and backstory. "There is a lot that’s never been said to anyone," Sakamoto said, adding, "Honestly, I feel like a truly frightening thing has been handed over to me." Sakamoto, who has been a voice actor even since 1996's The Vision of Escaflowne and has had starring roles in hit shows such as Ouran High School Host Club and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba, says she will not reveal those secrets unless she gets Anno's permission.
The finale of the Evangelion series, Evangelion 3.0+1.0: Thrice Upon A Time, was released in Japan in 2021 to positive reviews and the franchise's best box office performance. Evangelion 3.0+1.0 is the fourth movie in the Rebuild of Evangelion film series, which serves as both a retelling and a continuation of the story that began in the critically acclaimed Neon Genesis Evangelion television series. Sakamoto plays Mari Illustrious Makinami, a new character introduced in the Rebuild series who possesses a seemingly unnatural aptitude for piloting the series' titular Evangelion units, which are bio-mechanical weapons that are infamously hard to control. While Evangelion delves deeply into the past of the other pilots, Mari's origins remain shrouded in mystery.
The original Neon Genesis Evangelion anime, as well as the first two films in the series, are available for streaming on Netflix. The first three movies in the Rebuild of Evangelion series were given an English localization and released on DVD and Blu-ray by Funimation, but details regarding Evangelion 3.0+1.0's release outside of Japan have yet to be announced.
Source: Kotaku
