GKIDS has announced that it will screen the anime film Lupin the IIIrd: The Immortal Bloodline in select theaters across the United States from January 4-6, 2026. This limited engagement provides fans an opportunity to see the latest installment in the Takeshi Koike-directed Lupin the IIIrd saga on the big screen.
A New Chapter for the Gentleman Thief
Lupin the IIIrd: The Immortal Bloodline is the newest 2D animated feature film in the long-running Lupin III franchise, marking the first such film in nearly three decades. Directed by Takeshi Koike, known for his work on Redline and previous Lupin the IIIrd OVAs, the film serves as the culmination of a decade-long project and the final entry in his Lupin universe. Koike also served as character designer and animation director for the 2012 TV anime Lupin the Third: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine, which preceded his directorial work on the Lupin the IIIrd OVA series. The movie was produced by TMS Entertainment and animated by Telecom Animation Film, premiering in Japan on June 27, 2025.
The Plot: A Mysterious Island and an Immortal Foe
The story of Lupin the IIIrd: The Immortal Bloodline sees gentleman thief Lupin III, along with his iconic crew—master marksman Daisuke Jigen, expert spy Fujiko Mine, and samurai Goemon Ishikawa XIII—receive a special invitation to an uncharted island in the Bermuda Triangle. The invitation comes from a mysterious mastermind believed to be behind a series of attacks targeting Lupin and his allies.
Upon arrival, Lupin and his gang discover the island is a perilous trap. They face an unkillable adversary named Muomu, who can even survive a bullet to the head. The crew must navigate an island teeming with vaguely human monsters and a deadly poison gas that slowly engulfs the area, all while racing against a 24-hour time limit. The film has been described as a direct prequel to the 1978 theatrical movie, Lupin III: The Mystery of Mamo, reusing some plot elements from it.
The Legacy of Takeshi Koike’s Lupin the IIIrd Series
Koike’s Lupin the IIIrd series, which began with Lupin the IIIrd: The Gravestone of Daisuke Jigen (2017), is noted for its hardboiled and more “adult” take on the franchise, evoking the feel of Monkey Punch’s original manga. Each of the preceding OVAs focused on individual members of Lupin’s crew, with The Immortal Bloodline bringing together the overarching narrative threads that hinted at a greater enemy. This film is considered the culmination of Koike’s vision, aiming to be an ultimate test for Lupin and his allies as they confront an impossible-to-defeat villain.
The film features the established voice cast, including Kanichi Kurita as Lupin III, Akio Ōtsuka as Daisuke Jigen, Daisuke Namikawa as Goemon Ishikawa XIII, Miyuki Sawashiro as Fujiko Mine, and Koichi Yamadera as Inspector Zenigata. Ainosuke Kataoka VI and Aoi Morikawa join the cast as Muomu and Sarifa, respectively.
