Evangelion 3.0+1.0 finally has a release date. Khara announced on Twitter that the film, which has been dubbed Thrice Upon a Time, will release in theaters on March 8, 2020. This is the third release date the film has been given since the COVID-19 outbreak which has crippled the film industry worldwide. The film is the finale of the Rebuild of Evangelion tetralogy and the spiritual successor to the anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion, though with many twists and turns. The runtime is reportedly a whopping 154 minutes, the longest of any of the Rebuild films. It originally had a June 2020 release date, then a January 2021 release date, and now a March 2021 release date. Let’s hope the third time’s the charm. This will be the first Rebuild of Evangelion film since 2012’s Evangelion 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo. It’s highly anticipated, as fans of the series and the films have been waiting nine years for the conclusion to the story. Originally it appeared like it was a simple cash-in to jump-start a new anime studio, but as the project went along and became more ambitious, it took on a life of its own.
『#シン・エヴァンゲリオン劇場版』公開日決定のお知らせhttps://t.co/Cpqs0pXPpr
再延期の発表以降、検討を重ねました結果、『シン・エヴァンゲリオン劇場版』の公開日を西暦2021年3月8日（月）に決定しました。
ご鑑賞の際は各劇場での感染対策へのご協力をお願い申し上げます。#シンエヴァ pic.twitter.com/cdK6zRZDaA
— エヴァンゲリオン公式 (@evangelion_co) February 26, 2021
We had the opportunity to see the first 10 minutes of Thrice Upon a Time at Anime Expo 2019, and if what we saw is any indication of the direction of the film, it’s going to take us deep into the rabbit hole. With a 154 minute runtime, it will not only be the longest Evangelion film, but also promises to give the franchise a satisfactory conclusion. Once again, the release date of Evangelion 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time is March 8, and we cannot wait to see how Shinji Ikari’s journey ends.