'Sword Art Online The Movie' News Update: Film Hits 150 Theaters Across North America
Following its sweeping success in the Japanese box office, the "Sword Art Online" movie is set to hit theaters in North America. Titled "Sword Art Online The Movie: Ordinal Scale," the movie will be shown in 150 theaters across the continent.
As of this writing, the animated film based on the light "Sword Art Online" novel series has already earned 1.37 billion yen in Japan. The movie was first released on Feb. 18 and has been rocking virtual reality worlds and theaters throughout the country since its debut.
On March 9, the movie will hit theaters in North America and will be distributed by Sony Music's Aniplex. According to film director Tomohiko Ito, "Sword Art Online The Movie" only needs 900 million yen to beat Disney's "Frozen" at the box office. As of now, the movie holds the record for Aniplex's best opening weekend box office.
Ito and screenwriter Reki Kawahara revealed in a recent interview that the production team behind "Sword Art Online" created the plot concept for the movie in 2015 and that the final draft of its screenplay was completed in September that year. After its completion, they started working on the storyboard and the action scenes.
"Sword Art Online The Movie: Ordinal Scale" sheds light on how augmented reality technology obscures the line that differentiates the real world and the digital world. In the film, Kazuto "Kirito" Kirigaya and Asuna Yuuki come across new experiences in the game, which utilizes augmented reality technology.
The movie follows the players and their party members as they explore the Ordinal Scale, a world that helps them clear up the line between what is real and what is virtual. In the movie, Kazuto runs to find 300 SAO players who get trapped in their Nerve Gear, with Asuna, whom he marries towards the latter part of the game.
