Netflix Sets September 29 Global Release for Third Mononoke Film

Netflix confirmed Wednesday that it will stream Mononoke The Movie: Chapter III – The Curse of the Serpent (Gekijōban Mononoke Dai-San-Shō: Hebigami) globally on September 29. The third entry in the Mononoke film trilogy opened in Japan on May 29.

Netflix also streams both earlier films. Mononoke The Movie: Phantom in the Rain (Gekijōban Mononoke: Karakasa) debuted in Japan in July 2024. Mononoke the Movie Trilogy: Chapter 2: The Ashes of Rage (Gekijōban Mononoke Dai-Ni-Shō: Hinezumi) followed in March 2025.

An English-dubbed trailer has also been released.

The third film features Takahiro Sakurai in a cameo as the television series’ original Medicine Seller, Oricon confirmed. Staff had not announced his return or the character’s appearance before the film opened.

Moviegoers noticed the cameo and the lack of an advance announcement about Sakurai’s return. The appearance sparked controversy, with some fans supporting the decision and others opposing it.

The trilogy’s planning producer, Kōji Yamamoto, apologized on X, formerly Twitter, on June 5 and announced his retirement from producing. He confirmed that staff had brought Sakurai back after previously replacing him, and apologized for how they handled the information.

Twin Engine announced in February 2023 that the first film would be delayed and Sakurai would no longer return as protagonist the Medicine Seller as planned. Hiroshi Kamiya took over the trilogy’s role, which portrays a different Medicine Seller from the television series’ character.

In October 2022, the Weekly Bunshun tabloid reported that Sakurai had an extramarital affair lasting at least 10 years. The woman was a writer for his travel radio show, P.S. Genki Desu. Takahiro.

Sakurai’s talent agency, Intention, issued a statement the following day acknowledging the report. It apologized to the unnamed woman, Sakurai’s fans and everyone involved.

Explaining the replacement, Twin Engine said the film takes place in Ōoku, historically Edo Castle’s women’s quarters, and explores women’s suffering and healing. The company said it changed the Medicine Seller’s cast member because of the story’s perspective.

The franchise also has a new project planned featuring a third Medicine Seller, “Ken no Tsurugi.” Hirofumi Araki, who played the Medicine Seller in the recent Mononoke stage productions, will voice the character.

Mononoke previously inspired stage plays in 2023 and 2024, followed by a prequel with an original story that ran May 14–17. Jun Yoriko directed all three productions, with Araki starring in each.