Sword Art Online Progressive Announces Sequel for 2022

Sword Art Online the Movie - Progressive - Aria of a Starless Night debuted in Japan on Oct. 30, and a sequel has already been teased.

The announcement, which was made on Twitter, confirms that the new film will release sometime in 2022 and reveals its subtitle: Scherzo of a Dark Dusk. Fans of the Sword Art Online franchise have been quick to express their excitement for the sequel.

The Sword Art Online: Progressive lights novels by Reki Kawahara and abec are an expanded retelling of Sword Art Online's "Aincrad" storyline. Aria of a Starless Night adapts the initial encounter between main characters Kirito and Asuna and the other events that occur on Aincrad's first floor for the big screen. In particular, it focuses on Asuna's emotional and mental struggles with coping with the realities of being trapped in a video game where she can actually die.

A-1 Pictures, the studio behind the first Sword Art Online movie, Sword Art Online The Movie: Ordinal Scale, produced the film. with Ayako Kohno (Black Butler: Book of the Atlantic, Your Lie in April) serving as director. Yuki Kajiura (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Movie: Mugen Train, Sword Art Online: Alicization) composed the music, Yoshikazu Iwanami (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable, Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dreaming Girl) served as sound director, Kento Toya (The Seven Deadly Rin the Movie: Prisoners of the Sky, My Hero Academia) designed the characters and Yusa Ito (The Girl in Twilight, Valkyrie Drive: Mermaid) acted as art director.

The voice cast from the original Sword Art Online anime series reprises their roles in the film, including Yoshitsugu Matsuoka as Kirito and Haruka Tomatsu as Asuna. Aria of a Starless Night also introduces Mito, a new character played by veteran voice actor Inori Minase (My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!, How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom).

Sword Art Online the Movie - Progressive - Scherzo of a Dark Dusk isn't the only new anime project that is scheduled to premiere in 2022. Other titles include Made in Abyss: The Sun Blazes Upon the Golden City, Love After World Domination, Spy x Family, Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury and The Genuis Prince's Guide to Raising a Nation Out of Debt. 

Sword Art Online the Movie - Progressive - Aria of a Starless Night is scheduled to premiere in the United States and Canada on Dec. 3 and in Australia and New Zealand on Dec. 9.

Source: Twitter