Toei Co., the home of Kamen Rider, Super Sentai, and many other live-action and animated properties, is currently developing its first new superhero character in 50 years. Interestingly, this new character will be aimed at international markets, in line with the company’s new plans for outward expansion.
Fumio Yoshimura, Toei’s Company President and CEO, shared with Deadline: “In the past, Japan had a large population and therefore market for entertainment content, so we didn’t see the necessity of going overseas. But now our population is declining, a trend that is not likely to be reversed, so now is the time for us to create new strategies.”
These strategies for Toei will include further expansion of Kamen Rider, Super Sentai and Power Rangers, as well as international co-productions with companies around the world. These include a “Game Of Thrones-style big-budget action drama”set in feudal Japan, which is being co-scripted with U.S. writers; a movie set in New York, to be co-produced between the U.S., Japan and Taiwan; and a co-production between Japan and Africa.
There are also plans to expand further into the Asian market, with the company aiming to work with Chinese producers to co-produce both animated and live-action properties. These plans will be supported by tech upgrades to Toei’s studios and post-production facilities, with a $240mil studio renovation in the works.
