IT’S OFFICIAL! The Last: Naruto the Movie finally hit screens this May 13

As previously reported, SM Cinema has announced last March that the new release date of the highly-anticipated anime movie The Last: Naruto the Movie is set for Wednesday, May 13, but clarified that it may be tentative.

The theater chain has officially announced on their website Wednesday that May 13 will be the movie’s final release date, which they also posted on their Facebook page a day after.

Anime Pilipinas also learned that the much-anticipated movie will open in select SM Cinema branches in the National Capital Region and in the provinces, but is expected to add more in the coming days.

The SM Cinema branches in Metro Manila that will screen the movie are Mall of Asia (Pasay City), Megamall (Mandaluyong City), North Edsa (Quezon City), Novaliches (Quezon City), Fairview (Quezon City), Manila, San Lazaro (Manila), Sta. Mesa (Manila), Marikina, Bicutan (Parañaque), Southmall (Las Piñas), and Walter Mart Makati.

The SM Cinema branches in the provinces that will screen the movie are Baguio (Benguet) Tarlac, Lipa (Batangas), Naga (Camarines Sur), San Pablo (Laguna), Sta. Rosa (Laguna), Calamba (Laguna), Cebu, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro (Misamis Oriental), Davao (Davao del Sur), Lanang Premier (Davao del Sur), General Santos (South Cotabato) and Walter Mart Calamba (Laguna).

Pioneer Films, the film’s distributor, also released the official poster art for the anime movie for the Philippine release.

The moon is beginning to fall, and at the rate it’s going, it is doomed to fall on the Earth. The countdown for the survival of the planet begins. Among the havoc, Hinata’s younger sister Hanabi is captured by the mysterious enemy, Toneri Ōtsutsuki, who mistakes her for the elder sister. Naruto must overcome great danger on a mission to save Hanabi and the world along with Hinata, Sai, Shikamaru, and Sakura. Finally realizing what and who he must protect, Naruto embarks on his final story. (Synopsis from Anime News Network)

The Last: Naruto the Movie is the seventh film of the Naruto Shippuden series, as well as the 10th overall film adaptation of the highly-popular Naruto franchise, which also commemorates its 15th anniversary. This is also the first movie adaptation that is a part of the canon Naruto storyline, which is set in between the last two episodes of the manga.

The film is directed by Tsuneo Kobayashi, who also directed by Emma: A Victorian Romance series, and its screenplay was handled by Kyouzuka Maruo. The series creator Masashi Kishimoto has provided other aspects, such as the story concept, character designs, as well as exercising complete editorial supervision.

The Japanese voice casts are lead by Junko Takeuchi as Naruto Uzumaki, and Nana Mizuki as Hinata Hyuuga.

The Last has earned JPY515 million (USD4.35 million) during its opening weekend on December 06 last year and it earned a total of JPY1.75 billion (USD14.76 million), making it the top-grossing feature film of the franchise.

The movie was also released in the United States, which earned a total of USD524,451 (PHP23.53 million) during its three-week screening last February, and in South Korea, which earned a total of USD329,622 (PHP14.79 million) during its two-week screening last March.

UPDATE: Source link from SM Cinema has been corrected.