Netflix is bringing the Mononoke film trilogy to a close with a global streaming premiere on September 29. Mononoke The Movie: Chapter III – The Curse of the Serpent (Gekijōban Mononoke Dai-San-Shō: Hebigami) opens on the platform after debuting in Japanese theaters on May 29.

The film completes the trilogy that began with Mononoke The Movie: Phantom in the Rain in July 2024 and continued with Chapter 2: The Ashes of Rage in March 2025. Netflix has made both earlier installments available for streaming.

The casting controversy

The third film's release stirred up significant discussion in the fan community. The original Mononoke TV series voice actor Takahiro Sakurai appeared in the film in a cameo role — but without any prior announcement. This marked an unexpected return for Sakurai, who had been replaced by Hiroshi Kamiya as the Medicine Seller for the entire film trilogy back in February 2023.

At that time, Twin Engine explained the recasting by noting the trilogy's focus on depicting the suffering and remedy of women in the Ōoku (the historical women's quarters of Edo Castle), which informed the creative decision. The studio did not disclose why Sakurai had originally been replaced until after the third film's theatrical release, when fan reaction drew attention to his cameo.

Theatergoers and online discussion revealed the unannounced appearance, splitting fan opinion — some supported the decision, while others criticized how it was handled. Producer Kōji Yamamoto addressed the backlash on X (formerly Twitter) on June 5, apologizing for the lack of transparency and announcing his retirement from the production.

What's next

With the third film now heading to Netflix, the entire trilogy will be available for streaming audiences worldwide. The September 29 date gives fans outside Japan their first legal way to watch the finale, which wraps up the film series' story arc in the Edo period setting.