Awhile ago it was confirmed that the next Kamen Rider series would be called Kamen Rider Ghost. As more information has trickled in we begin to have a better understanding of what this series will be like.
Produced by Kazuhiro Takahashi, (Kamen Rider W, Kamen Rider OOO & Kamen Rider Fourze) the latest series will be directed by Satoshi Morota who helmed the highly acclaimed 2013 series, Kamen Rider Gaim. (As well as other Kamen Rider series such as Fourze, Kamen Rider Wizard.)
The real kicker is the addition of series head writer Takuro Fukuda who was a co-writer on the incredible UltraSeven X and beloved Ultraman Max. One can hope he injects some magic from those series into Kamen Rider Ghost.
The lead rider, Takeru Tenkuji, will be played by newcomer actor/model Shun Nishime. Nishime moved to Tokyo to begin his acting career immediately after high school. He recently won the 'Grand Prix' in Junon magazine's 27th Super Boy Contest this year. (The Junon Super Boy Contest could be described as a male beauty pagent.) Young actor/models are nothing new to the Kamen Rider series, but at 17 years of age Nishime will tie Takeru Sato (Kamen Rider Den-O) as the youngest lead Rider in the franchise.
Although Nishime's involvement with Junon led to rumors that Kamen Rider Ghost will use a “fashion” motif, it has so only been confirmed that the new Rider will utilize “ghost” powers and weaponry to battle his foes. (However, the different jackets Ghost wears for his various forms have kept the fashion rumor alive as an addend motif.)
Takeru Tenkuji will use the Ghost Driver to transform into Ghost. His main weapon will be the Gangan Saber and he will utilize Ghost Gadgets-- Mini-bots that can assist him in battle. Kamen Rider Ghost will also use the Ghost Eyecons (eyeball-esque orbs) to summon “Damashii” or Souls, which are his various forms.
And for those who didn't like the idea of Kamen Rider Drive's race-car, Ghost will bring the Rider back to two wheels with the Machine Ghoststriker. The Ghostriker will be able to combine with the pirate themed secondary vehicle, “Captain Ghost,” to create the Iguana Ghoststriker.
If all of this sounds pretty insane maybe it's because insanity works best for Kamen Rider. As much as I loved the designs and basic story concepts for Kamen Rider Drive, it quickly became obvious that the writers didn't know what to do with it. “Dull” is the most condemning word for a Kamen Rider series and for all of Drive's potential “dull” is as far as it has gone.
Perhaps a fashion savvy, ghost Rider (no pun intended) is what the franchise needs to inject some adrenaline back into it. I'm not particularly keen on the bulky Ghost costume, but the helmet looks really cool-- Almost out of place from the rest of the design really. My personal anticipation is in check after Drive and Gaim, (I'm one of the few that wasn't taken with Gaim) but as usual there's plenty of potential for the 26th iteration.
Make sure to watch the press conference video below with some of the series' first footage included!
Kamen Rider Ghost premieres in Japan, October 4th, 2015.
Ghost will make his first theatrical appearance in Kamen Rider x Kamen Rider Drive & Ghost: Movie Wars 2016, this December!
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Sources:
TokuNation
HeroShock
