Chainsaw Man: International Assassins Arc Confirmed by MAPPA

It is time for fans to start revving their engines because Denji, Power, and Aki are finally coming back. In a major announcement that has sent waves of excitement through the global anime community, Studio MAPPA officially confirmed that the Chainsaw Man anime is returning for its next chapter. The reveal was made during the Super Stage presentation at the Jump Festa 2026 event. Titled Chainsaw Man: The International Assassins Arc, this new production will serve as a direct sequel to the recent blockbuster film, picking up the story exactly where the audience was left hanging. 

The announcement was accompanied by a gritty teaser visual featuring the protagonist, Denji, ensnared in red strings and looming silhouettes, setting the stage for a narrative that promises to be darker and more intense than ever before.

The upcoming season will adapt the "International Assassins Arc," which is widely regarded by manga readers as one of the most chaotic and thrilling storylines in Tatsuki Fujimoto’s original work. The plot picks up immediately after the heartbreaking betrayal Denji suffered during the events of the movie. Now, the stakes have never been higher for the Public Safety devil hunters. 

The Russian government has been confirmed as a hostile force, and Denji has become the primary target of lethal assassins from around the globe who are hunting for his Chainsaw Devil heart. Meanwhile, the original voice cast—including Kikunosuke Toya as Denji—is set to return and the new arc promises to push the series' signature psychological horror and action to new heights.

Reze Arc Movie Box Office Success

This production announcement comes off the back of the massive commercial and critical success of Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc. Released in Japanese theatres in September 2025 and globally in October, the film bridged the gap between the first TV season and this newly announced project. The movie proved the franchise's staying power, grossing a staggering ¥9.6 billion in Japan and over $154 million USD worldwide, as mentioned by Box Office Mojo. 

The film’s momentum continued well after its theatrical run, hitting #1 on Apple TV following its digital release globally on Dec 9, as reported by CBR. The franchise’s pop-culture dominance was further cemented when a clip of Reze dancing to the movie’s theme song, "Iris Out" by Kenshi Yonezu, went viral on X, garnering over 1.8 million likes.

Despite the confirmation that production has begun, MAPPA did not provide a concrete release date or specify the format of the new anime at the event. In the meantime, the franchise continues to expand its reach to keep fans engaged. 

A live-action stage adaptation of the Reze Arc has been announced for Summer 2026, following the success of the Season 1 stage play currently available on Crunchyroll. As speculation on the animation style heats up on social media, fans are now eagerly awaiting the first full trailer to see how Denji will survive the global hunt for his heart.