Shannon Tindle Suggests There Won’t Be a Sequel to ‘Ultraman: Rising Sequel,’ Teases Something New Is Coming

Fans of Ultraman: Rising got disappointing news this week. The 2024 Netflix film won’t be getting a sequel anytime soon. Shannon Tindle, who co-directed and co-wrote the movie, broke the news on Twitter/X.

A fan asked if another Ultraman film was coming. Tindle’s response was clear and blunt: “I’d love to make another, but currently, it’s not in the cards. However, I’ve just started working on something I’m very excited about:) More to come…”

The update crushed hopes for more adventures with Ken Sato, the baseball star turned superhero from the film. Released in June 2024, Ultraman: Rising followed Sato as he returned to Japan to become Ultraman, Earth’s protector.

His mission got complicated fast. He had to raise the baby of his biggest enemy while juggling family issues and battles with the Kaiju Defense Force.

Critics loved it, giving it an 86% on Rotten Tomatoes. Fans rated it even higher at 92%. IMDb score stands at a decent 6.9. But strong reviews weren’t enough to push Netflix for a follow-up.

Tindle’s career adds weight to the sequel talk. He’s an Emmy-winning animator with a solid track record. He designed characters for shows like Static Shock and Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends. He also worked on the Oscar-nominated Kubo and the Two Strings. For Netflix, he created Lost Ollie, a charming miniseries.

Ultraman: Rising was his first time directing a feature film, alongside John Aoshima, known for Gravity Falls. The movie starred Christopher Sean, Gedde Watanabe, Tamlyn Tomita, Keone Young, and Julia Harriman. Tindle wrote it with Marc Haimes, and Tom Knott and Lisa Poole produced it.

So why no sequel? Netflix might be to blame. The company churns out tons of movies and shows every week. Many get lost in the flood. Ultraman: Rising suffered from weak marketing. Some fans didn’t even know it came out. Last October, Tindle sounded hopeful.

He said he was working on a script called Ultraman: Fallen. Now, that plan seems dead—or at least on hold. Netflix’s 2025 lineup suggests more of the same: lots of releases, little focus. Good films risk being buried again.

Still, there’s a silver lining. Animation doesn’t age like live-action. A sequel could happen later. And Tindle’s not sitting still. He’s already started a new project he’s excited about. Details are scarce, but his track record keeps fans curious.

The Ultraman franchise itself isn’t slowing down. It began in Japan in 1966 and shaped tokusatsu and kaiju culture worldwide. Ultraman: Rising was its 44th entry. The past decade brought a dozen films, like the hit Shin Ultraman. Last month, Japan got Ultraman Arc The Movie: The Clash of Light and Evil in theaters. More Ultraman is coming—just not from Netflix right now.

Would you like to see a sequel? Let us know in the comments below.