Crunchyroll Eyes ‘Solo Leveling’ Season 3, Expands Anime Slate With ‘Ghost of Tsushima’ and New ‘Demon Slayer’ Trilogy
Crunchyroll President Rahul Purini has confirmed that the platform is hopeful about greenlighting Solo Leveling Season 3, while also unveiling major updates on anticipated anime projects like Ghost of Tsushima and the final Demon Slayer trilogy. With anime’s global audience expanding rapidly, the Sony-owned streamer is sharpening its focus on game-inspired IPs and high-performing franchises.
Solo Leveling Leads Crunchyroll’s Global Charge
Since the premiere of its second season in January 2025, Solo Leveling has emerged as Crunchyroll’s most successful title of the year. The anime adaptation of the hit Korean manhwa dominated viewership charts through Q1, captivating fans with its fast-paced action, detailed animation from A-1 Pictures, and immersive RPG-style world.
Purini credits the success to a combination of exceptional production quality and the story’s gaming-centric themes. “The most important thing is the theme of the story,” he explained. “It has a lot of themes from gaming. If you’re an RPG player or someone who enjoys first-person-shooters, this resonates—it’s language gamers speak.”
When asked whether a third season is in development, Purini expressed optimism. “We hope so,” he said. “The creators want to work on a lot of shows. Anime is really popular, and there’s a lot of demand. So we need to find the right time to get started on the next season.”
Crunchyroll insiders suggest that Solo Leveling Season 3 is likely being evaluated as a strategic follow-up, especially given the immense popularity of the first two seasons. Fans are already flooding forums and social media with theories and anticipation for where the next arc might lead protagonist Sung Jin-Woo.
Solo Leveling Season 3 – ‘Ghost of Tsushima’
Crunchyroll is also set to adapt Ghost of Tsushima, the critically acclaimed PlayStation title from Sucker Punch Productions, into an anime series. Backed by Aniplex, Sony Music, and PlayStation Productions, the series is scheduled for release in 2027.
According to Purini, the success of Solo Leveling has encouraged Crunchyroll to explore other high-potential game adaptations. “It definitely makes us want to take more experiments. Ghost of Tsushima is a game IP that we know gaming fans love. One of the reasons we want to bring it to anime is to see if we can recreate that same phenomenon.”
With Ghost of Tsushima, Crunchyroll is aiming to expand its reach into the gaming-anime crossover space, a niche it believes Solo Leveling Season 3 could continue to define.
Demon Slayer’s Final Arc Heads to Theaters
In addition, the highly anticipated finale of Demon Slayer will kick off this September in U.S. theaters with Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle. The film marks the beginning of a trilogy that will adapt the final arc of Koyoharu Gotouge’s beloved manga.
“This trilogy is the final arc of the story,” Purini stated. “For fans, if they want to finish it, they have to watch it.”
With Haruo Sotozaki returning as director, expectations are high. Mugen Train earned $21.2 million in 2021, and Swordsmith Village grossed $10.1 million in 2023. While release dates for the subsequent films remain unconfirmed, insiders suggest they will be spaced out evenly post-September.
Crunchyroll’s Broader Strategy: IP and Immersion
Crunchyroll’s strategy moving forward rests heavily on IP strength and community engagement. The streaming giant now counts over 15 million subscribers globally, and Purini believes projects like Solo Leveling Season 3 will be instrumental in sustaining that growth.
“The audience wants stories that are immersive and familiar,” he said. “And Solo Leveling Season 3, when it happens, is going to tap into exactly that.”