A legendary Shōnen Jump manga is about to rise from the rubble and tell its enemies they’re already dead with a new series over 40 years after its first adaptation hit airwaves in Japan. The newFist of the North Staranime just received its first poster, which not only shows off the series' iconic protagonist Kenshiro but also reveals that the iconic post-apocalypticmartial arts franchisewill be making its return sometime in 2026.Warner Bros. Japanfirst announced the project back in 2023 in celebration of the original manga’s 40th anniversary. The latest update comes ahead ofAnime Expo2025, where the producer is expected to unveil the first teaser and the main voice cast at its industry panel on July 5.
Fist of the North Star, originally titledHokuto no Ken, was a fixture of Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine from 1983 through 1988, following the journey of the martial artist Kenshiro through an Earth decimated by nuclear war. Set ina post-apocalyptic wastelandfilled with warlords and bandits and inspired byMad Max, it saw Kenshiro wield the Hokuto Shinken, a deadly technique that involves striking vital points on the body for often gruesome results, to defend the defenseless and innocent from the forces that threaten them. The new adaptation will follow roughly the same pattern, according to the synopsis, with Kenshiro forging a path in a dying world and bringing hope to the hopeless survivors. All the while, he’ll pursue his sworn enemy, Shin, who stole his fiancée Yuria and engraved the seven scars on his chest.
Back when the new anime was announced, Warner Bros. Japan promised a faithful modern take onFist of the North Starfeaturing “an all-new team of creators and voice actors, and powered by the latest animation technology.” Exactly who is involved on the creative end also hasn’t been unveiled yet, though. The original manga hailed from legendary mangakaBuronson, with art byTetsuo Hara, both of whom have been supportive of bringing Kenshiro and the series’s many gonzo fight scenes into a new erawhere action anime has thrived. In a statement back in 2023, Buronson shared his excitement for the reboot, saying:
“A work from 40 years ago will be reborn as an animated work. I took a step back from animation at the time since it is a little different from manga. Now, animation and movie technology have evolved tremendously. How will that cook-upFist of the North Star: Hokuto no Ken? Moreover, the principle of new anime production is to depict the original work with great care. I am so looking forward to it. My work, which has been loved by many fans over the past 40 years will make a comeback as an anime. I look forward to enjoying it with everyone.”
‘Fist of the North Star’ Has Seen No Shortage of Adaptations Over the Years
Few anime series have had an impact as massive asFist of the North Star, which has been cited as an inspiration for other manga and anime likeBerserkandJojo’s Bizarre Adventure, video games likeDouble DragonandMortal Kombat, and more. It was also heavily responsible for pushing manga tonew levels of violenceand inspiring more gritty, mature series to follow in its wake. As such an important and beloved series, there have been plenty of adaptations. The most notable is the original Toei Animation anime series and its sequel, which began in 1984 and ran for 152 episodes in total. However, the manga also received a live-action adaptation in the U.S., with the 1995 direct-to-video film starringGary Danielsas Kenshiro alongsideCostas Mandylor,Chris Penn,Isako Washio,Malcolm McDowell, andDante Basco, among others.Fist of the North Starhas also expanded into other animated films, OVAs, a novel, video games, and even a musical in Japan, which opened in December 2021.
The newFist of the North Staranime is due out sometime in 2026. Stay tuned here at Collider for more as the adaptation draws closer. Check out the first poster above.
