The fourth and (supposedly) final season of Attack on Titan was scheduled to end this month. However, with the announcement of more Attack on Titan anime content to come next year, everyone's wondering just how this huge series will actually finish! Should fans expect an Attack on Titan movie in 2023, or Season 5?
Related: Where to Watch Attack on Titan Season 4, Part 2
Will Attack on Titan End With a Movie?
Before the end of Season 4 Part 2, an Attack on Titan movie was the most popular theory amongst fans. With the announcement of a televised conclusion in 2023, a movie to end the series is hugely unlikely.
It was clear to many fans that Season 4 Part 2, with a 12-episode schedule, wouldn't be able to cover the end of the series. However, it was never confirmed what would happen to bridge the gap between TV series and story conclusion.
One option was the final few episodes of Part 2’s 12-episode run being extended, as we saw recently with Demon Slayer’s Entertainment District Arc. However, that never occurred and would have been unlikely given the series has never deviated from its usual episodic runtime.
Some fans also suggested another 16-episode for Part 2, but this never happened. Others even mentioned that an alternative ending may be considered just for TV.
In the end, it was confirmed that the 'conclusion' will have a separate TV run in 2023. Right now, though, we don't have any information regarding what form this final season will take.
We've worked through the potential different options below.
Will there be an Attack on Titan Movie in 2023?
One of the biggest rumours is that the end of the series - the Battle of Heaven and Earth - could be made into a movie. Now that a concluding part to air on NHK (Japanese domestic TV) has been announced, a movie is much less likely.
That being said, we could have a situation where the 'conclusion' is released after its TV run as a giant movie special. After all, there are many things in favour of a movie to end this giant franchise.
Firstly, If the prediction of having three or four more episodes' worth of content at the end of the 12-episode series is correct, that could translate well into a movie.
Secondly, anime such as Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen have recently broken box-office records with hugely successful movie adaptations. The Evangelion series is another example of an anime that successfully started on TV and ended on the big screen.
A cinematic conclusion to Attack on Titan would almost certainly make a huge amount of money, even if it was a reworking of what's already been seen on the small screen.
Will the Attack on Titan Ending Change in the Anime?
Another option for concluding Attack on Titan is to change the ending. At this stage, this is probably the least likely outcome, but some sort of change shouldn’t be ruled out.
Many manga fans were unsatisfied with the original Attack on Titan ending. However, the main complaints about the manga’s ending were that it was rushed. Rumours suggested that Isayama was exhausted by the end, with the manga running for over 10 years.
Given that some fans were previously unhappy about the rushed nature of the manga’s ending, it would be very strange if the anime received the same treatment. However, Isayama has been working closely with the studio creating the anime – could he have spoken to them about creating his perfect ending for the screen?
Will There be an Attack on Titan Season 5?
There definitely won't be a season 5 of Attack on Titan. After all, calling season four the ‘final season’ limits their options regarding a new season. However, there are workarounds, as Attack on Titan has proved with its recent announcement.
The studio has confirmed Attack on Titan Season 4 Part 3 (or 'Conclusion') for later this year, a special release concluding the final events of the show.
While it may not be a popular decision, releasing the final acts later in the year allows the hype and, ultimately, big revenues to keep going for the series a little longer. This scenario may also satisfy fans who want more of the show and don’t want to see the ending rushed.
We don't know much about this final part yet; whether it will be a full 12-episode season or a smaller special run could, of course, impact the nature of the series. Whenever we receive news, we'll update this page, so stay tuned!
Related: Attack on Titan Season 4 Part 2 English Dub Release Date Revealed
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