Since Overlord debuted back in 2015, it has been making waves in the entertainment world. However, it’s been almost two years, and we haven’t learned anything about Overlord Season 5 release date. Is it still on the cards? While the chances for the future installment remain scarce, the light novel author has hinted at the future of the series. Does it mean the author is planning to return with more seasons? Curious to know? Then, keep reading!
Based on a Japanese light novel by Kugane Maruyama, Overlord is set in 2126. The anime focuses on a role-playing game called YGGDRASIL. After the game was shut down, the protagonist, a skeletal Lich “Overlord” character’s player, got trapped inside the game. With nowhere to be gone, Momonga decided to search for other members to uncover the mystery surrounding the game. Amid this, Momonga had to protect Nazarick and continue his guild, Ainz Ooal Gown.
Overlord Season 5: Renewed Or Canceled?
Die-hard fans have been looking forward to the next season of Overlord since the anime’s fourth season ended in 2022. It’s been almost two years, and we haven’t heard anything about Overlord Season 5. This further led many to conclude that the production house and the author aren’t planning to return with the fifth season of Overlord. However, Crunchyroll hasn’t confirmed that the series has been canceled. Instead, considering the author’s statement, it seems like the anime series has been shelved.
As per a Reddit thread, the manga series author Kagune Maruyama revealed in a press conference that the chances of Overlord Season 5 are slim. According to the user, the author is dissatisfied with the English dub, which led him to make a bold decision. Maruyama expressed that the English dub had ruined the nature of the anime. While the decision behind the renewal has remained under wraps, the series author’s stance against dubbing hints at the dark fate of the series.
Many also believe that the author’s decision to end the anime with four seasons is relevant, considering the quality of the English dub. While Overlord Season 5’s release date remains unclear, another user suggests that the anime has been canceled. That’s because the anime industry is known for leaving its series unfinished. This might be the case with Overlord as well. However, nothing is written on stone yet. So, we expect Crunchyroll or Madhouse Studio to make an official announcement sooner or later.
Author’s Financial Condition To Be Blamed
Since the Reddit user revealed that Maruyama isn’t planning to return with the future installment, a fierce debate is ongoing. In the heat of the debate, another user revealed that the author has planned to return with Overlord Season 5. However, his decision faced a grim fate. The Reddit user clarified that the author has nothing to do with the English dub of the anime. Instead he was concerned about the circulation of his light novel.
Maruyama expressed his concerns on X, formerly known as Twitter, not at a press conference. It’s become challenging for the author to publish his last two light novels as the English translations aren’t official. Sometimes, unauthorized translations lead to delays or financial loss from authors and publishers. This might be the reason why Maruyama isn’t looking forward to returning with the next volume. However, his fans are willing to support him by buying the original volumes. Despite that, the chances of Overlord Season 5 seem slim.
Initially Envisioned For Two More Seasons
In May 2016, Kugane Maruyama tweeted on his official X account that Overlord would be completed in 18 volumes. Although he didn’t share much about the future installments, the author posted that he’s hopeful about finishing the gritty dark fantasy light novel series with 18 volumes—only if KADOKAWA allows it to be published. However, the author also expressed concern about its unauthorized translation, sharing that it could destroy his work.
Overlord Season 5: When Will Production Begin?
As of now, nothing is known about the series’ production. The anime has yet to be greenlit, which means the production will take time to begin. If the series is renewed this year, we can expect it to undergo production later this year. However, nothing is crystal clear at this moment. As for the studio house behind the anime, Madhouse is working on Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, Trillion Game, and Orb: On the Movements of the Earth.
Since Madhouse animates three to four animes annually, it doesn’t seem like it will return with Overlord Season 5 sooner. The studio house was founded in 1972 by ex-Mushi Pro staff. Since then, it has created several marvelous animes, films, and OVAs. Some of them are Death Note, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, Hunter X Hunter, and more.
Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom Anime Film Announced
While fans have been waiting for Overlord Season 5 release date, the studio house confirmed the series will get its film adaptation. The anime film was announced back in October 2021, revealing it is set to come to theaters in Japan in 2024. Surprisingly, in late March of 2024, KADOKAWA released a brand-new trailer for the upcoming movie Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom. The 1-minute teaser trailer begins with the knights bowing in front of the Sacred Queen.
The scene quickly shifts to the battlefield, teasing the Roeble Sacred Kingdom, a small country under invasion. As the trailer unfolds, it hints at the looming battle. Now, it remains to be seen which side will win: the demon and undead or the sacred kingdom. While it’s just the beginning of the gruesome war, the trailer ending hints at the Sacred King’s dark fate. Will he die in the end? Enjoy the trailer below.
In addition to the trailer, Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom has also revealed the cast details. As per the official announcement, Yoshi Aoyama will voice Neia, Haruka Tomatsu will voice Kelart, Saori Hayami will voice Calca, and Hitomi Nabatame will voice Remedios.
Overlord Season 5: What Might Have Happened?
As of now, it remains unclear when the series will get its fifth season. However, since the series is an adaptation of the light novel by Kugane Maruyama and illustrated by So-bin, we believe it will explore the final arc. The light novel started serializing in 2010 and is currently ongoing. It has 16 volumes, and so far, the anime has covered up to Volume 11. As for the anime film, Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom is set to cover Volumes 12 and 13.
This means the fifth season will likely cover Vol 14 to 18. However, one thing to note is that Maruyama hasn’t yet released Vol 17 and 18. So, Overlord Season 5 might delve into Volumes 14, 15, and 16. The three volumes are entirely based on the war. It shows the world of Overlord on the edge of collapse as the war breaks down. Nazarick declares war on Re-Estize Kingdom. It quickly creates problems for the main character, Ainz Ooal Gown.
Since the War of Annihilation begins, fans can see the Re-Estize Kingdom and the Sorcerer Kingdom going head to head to save their kingdom. Meanwhile, Ainz’s guild headquarters seem to be located in the middle of the battleground, creating more complications for the anime’s main character. So, to ease things up, he and his other guild members will decide to bring down the Sorcerer Kingdom to protect their headquarters and guild. While the war intensifies the challenges, Ainz will come up with better decisions.
Overlord Season 5 Cast Details
If Overlord Season 5 returns, then the anime’s core characters and voice actors will definitely make their return. This, of course, means that Ainz Ooal Gown, who serves as the series’ protagonist, will return with his fellow guild members. These include Albedo, the twin dark elves Aura Bella Fiora and Mare Bello Fiore, and the suit-wearing demon Demiurge. They will undoubtedly return to join Ainz in his next quest for power. The voice actors for the mentioned characters are:
- Ainz Ooal Gown – Satoshi Hino (Japanese), Chris Guerrero (English)
- Albedo – Yumi Hara (Japanese), Elizabeth Maxwell (English)
- Demiurge – Masayaki Katou (Japanese), Jeff Johnson (English)
- Mare Bello Fiore – Yumi Uchiyama (Japanese), Megan Shipman (English)
- Aura Bella Fiora – Emiri Kato (Japanese), Chris Guerrero (English)
- Lumiere – Saori Onishi (Japanese), Jennifer Alyx (English)
- Antilene Heran Fouche – Yukari Tamura (Japanese), Monica Rial (English)
Overlord Season 5 Release Date
The series has yet to be announced, so it’s highly unlikely that Overlord Season 5 will be released in 2025. If the series undergoes production this year, then it will take a couple of years to finish production. This means the Overlord Season 5 release date will fall in 2026/2027. But don’t be disheartened.
This is because Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom is likely to air in the fall of 2024. According to the reports, it will hit IMAX in Japan on September 13, 2024, while the theatrical release in Japan will be on September 20, 2024. As for the North American release date, the movie will hit the theatre on November 8, 2024, just a few months after its Japan release. This is all for now. Stay with The Anime Daily for more such updates.