In a Q&A interview for the upcoming Ready Player One film, Ernest Cline, who wrote the original novel and the screenplay for the film confirmed that Ultraman will not be appearing in the film.
Prior to the unveiling of the trailer, he revealed that "We weren't able to get everything we wanted, but we got the mass majority of it. There are some differences between the movie and the book, but I was involved with all those changes."
After the trailer played, around the 19:30 mark of the Q&A, Cline revealed that they replaced Ultraman with the Iron Giant because they cannot get the rights to use Ultraman in the film. It is because of a legal battle between Tsuburaya Productions and "another company from Japan" presumably, UM Corporation. Both companies want Ultraman to be in the film, "but the rights could not be cleared because of their legal battle over it", causing them to find a replacement for the Giant of Light. As for said legal battle, Tsuburaya won the case. The film's director, Steven Spielberg suggested to use Iron Giant as a replacement for Ultraman for the film, which he is okay with as he is also a fan of the Iron Giant. He also confirmed that a sequel for the original novel was currently in the works in the same Q&A.
To those who haven't read the original novel, in the novel's 20th chapter, the novel's protagonist, Parzival along with two Japanese brothers, Shoto and Daito took a quest in Planet Tokusatsu called "Shodai Ultraman" in which the trio recreate all 39 episodes of the original Ultraman TV series as members of the Science Patrol. The reward for said quest is Hayata's Beta Capsule, allowing the user to transform into Ultraman for three minutes. Said item played a big role in the novel's final battle.
To those who haven't read the original novel, in the novel's 20th chapter, the novel's protagonist, Parzival along with two Japanese brothers, Shoto and Daito took a quest in Planet Tokusatsu called "Shodai Ultraman" in which the trio recreate all 39 episodes of the original Ultraman TV series as members of the Science Patrol. The reward for said quest is Hayata's Beta Capsule, allowing the user to transform into Ultraman for three minutes. Said item played a big role in the novel's final battle.
RX-78-2 Gundam as seen in the Ready Player One trailer.
As for Iron Giant in the original novel, he was one of the robots available for Parzival to choose from a selection of robots as one of the rewards in their quest to find the Second Gate. To those who are curious, the robot he chose in the original novel was Leopardon from Toei's Spiderman TV series. It is unknown if Leopardon will appear in the movie.
Other robots that you can select as a reward are: Gigantor/Tetsujin 28-go, Tranzor Z/Mazinger Z, Jet Jaguar, Giant Robo, the entire Shogun Warriors line (notable robots part of the line are: Daitetsujin 17, Combattler V, Daimos, Danguard Ace, Getter Robo, Gaiking, Grendizer, Great Mazinger, Raideen and Voltes V), and the mechs from the Gundam (RX-78-2 Gundam was seen in the trailer) and Macross franchises.
Ready Player One is set for March 30, 2018 release.
Other robots that you can select as a reward are: Gigantor/Tetsujin 28-go, Tranzor Z/Mazinger Z, Jet Jaguar, Giant Robo, the entire Shogun Warriors line (notable robots part of the line are: Daitetsujin 17, Combattler V, Daimos, Danguard Ace, Getter Robo, Gaiking, Grendizer, Great Mazinger, Raideen and Voltes V), and the mechs from the Gundam (RX-78-2 Gundam was seen in the trailer) and Macross franchises.
Ready Player One is set for March 30, 2018 release.
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