Zoffy himself will appear in this movie
- The tagline for this film (''Have you become so fond of humans, Ultraman?") comes directly from him, so it might be some hint of foreshadowing.
- And let's not forget that the film's theme song by Kenshi Yonezu is titled M87, which is also the name of his signature beam attack.
- Confirmed. He, ironically, even turns out to be the final Big Bad Ultraman needs to confront to protect Earth.
More kaiju from the original show will appear, either still yet to be revealed in this movie, or in a possible sequel
- There's a lot of potential for more "Shin" versions of famous Ultra-Monsters like Gomora, Red King, Baltan, Zetton etc. and if Tsuburaya wants to cash in on that (and perhaps extend this film to the mainstream Ultraman multiverse) they could always approach Higuchi and Anno with a possible sequel introducing them. Although it's also possible they're just still hidden from this film.
- Some monsters from Ultra Q, which Ultraman was a sequel to, make an appearance in this film.
In the absence of the Color Timer, the red parts of Ultraman's body will start to glow as time runs out.
When Tsuburaya first came up with the Three Minute Rule for Ultraman's weakness, the original plan was for Ultraman's body to start flashing red as the battle dragged on. This idea was ultimately rejected due to the limits of special effects at the time, and replaced with the, now famous, Color Timer.Since Shin Ultraman is going to use GCI for both Ultraman and the kaiju, it's possible that Hideki Anno is going to revisit that old concept.
The film's Big Bad will be one of the original Ultraman's most famous enemies.
- Alien Baltan, Alien Zetton, or Alien Mephilas are all contenders, and the final kaiju fight could be against a monster that actually beat Ultraman before: Zetton, Gomora, or possibly something else.
- Alien Zarab and Mephilas are confirmed to be part of the Big Bad Duumvirate.
- Zetton is confirmed to be Ultraman's final opponent, though his master isn't who you'd expect! Ironically, it's Zoffy.
While not properly established by the film, at least one of the kaiju that appears in the Shin continuity is an offspring of Godzilla.
- There was no clear indication in the narrative framing that any of the kaiju that sprang throughout Shin Ultraman actually came from the sprouting humanoids coming out of Shin Godzilla—especially as it was established the frozen Godzilla was eventually moved out of Japan. However, the appearance of Gomess (with a very blatant design modified off Shin Godzilla) does suggest at least he is one of those that got away.
Ultraman is not the only "Outsider" in the movie, to fully be on the human's side.
- Specifically, Kagami, the National Police Agency Security Bureau Public Security Division Officer who leaks the specifics of Zarab's treaties and international agreements to Kaminaga and later aids in his rescue. One theory, playing off of shared names, is that he's the same guy as the hero of Mirrorman, another Tsuburaya show (which was also considered for a Shin-style big budget update at one point).
- A related theory is that he was aware Kaminaga and Ultraman are one and the same before it became public - and has no problem with that.
- The proof for this is twofold. First, in what are supposed to be human-to-human conversations, he uses wording that sounds more like at least one party if not both aren't human. Second, his actions and knowledge don't jive with what would be expected for a normal human. Kagami has no other reason to over-explain certain aspects of the world as he does to Kaminaga, when they're originally from the same governmental body. He also has no Earthly way of being as familiar as he is with Zarab's actions after leaving Kaminaga, and it's odd that someone from his branch of the government would be able to enter the building the S.S.S.P. works in.
- It's also weird that Zarab does nothing to stop him, but less weird to think that he can't.
- Lipia's reason for coming to Earth is not 100% clear, though his merely being on Earth is apparently not a violation of laws or codes. Another "outsider" inviting him as a special investigator or guest would make sense, and would clean up the legality of it.
Zoffy will be the hero of the theoretical sequel.
- His face was made by making a 3D scan of Ultraman Jack's original mask. His patterns have always been similar to Jack. He shares Ultraman's fascination with humans by the end of the movie and is touched by his brother's sacrifice. He may still keep his position as the Earth's observer. The sequel will streamline the narrative and have Zoffy return to Earth and whether driven by circumstance or compassion will merge with a human and emulate the original's heroic actions.
- In keeping with the original plan for The Ultraman Who Returned, it really is the original Ultraman who returns to save Earth again. Zoffy and Ultraman will fight side by side, all Heisei Movie-style.
- He'll stick around on Earth as its Land of Light representative. But rather than fight directly - which would be in direct violation of many treaties - he advises the SSSP as "Mr. Sakomizu".
Seven will be the hero of the sequel.
- ...Because that's what happened in 1967.
- Anno's long-term trilogy plans list "Sequel to Shin Ultraman" before "Shin Ultraseven." Shin Ultraman's script was actually written as a prequel to a film project he had already finalized, which was a retelling of Return of Ultraman. Plans could certainly change, especially with how hard Tsupro pushed the fifty-fifth anniversary of Ultraseven, but the initial plans listed in the Shin Ultraman Design works show two Ultraman movies in a row before Shin Ultraseven.
- Seven, essentially a bored cartographer who took a Busman's Holiday to Earth in the original, is much the same here. The known threat that humans possess to the metaverse makes some other Ultras curious, and Shin Seven decides to make a pit stop.
- Seven doesn't come to Earth wearing his Protector or with his Eye Slugger. He doesn't have access to the Beta System in the same way, and those devices are a workaround to grow to giant size; the Protector is a solid-form fuel source that dissipates the longer he's giant. Unlike Ultraman, his form is sustained by solar energy and a long-term underground invasion situation drains him.
- There are no Kaijuu; it's all Outsiders. One of the "all head, no body" types like Cool or Chiburu or Pole, to emphasize how unlike Earthlings they are. Or, maybe the Metrons have cooked up a new plan (hell, a straight remake of "Nerawareta Machi" or even "Daiyonwakusei no Akumu" wouldn't be out of place in the Jissoji-lite Anno-verse).
Some of the other intelligent Ultraman invaders will appear in the sequel - in that movie's opening montage.
- Bemular won't appear, but Gango will in its place. More salt in the wound for what should be a more famous Ultra kaiju.
- The Baltans will be a clone race, used by other races as slaves. ...and then they revolt, coming to Earth as refugees. And for once, not only will they not have evil plans, the governments of Earth won't try to sign a treaty with them. They end up in Australia, rather enjoying the heat and relatively peaceful wildlife.
- Bullton was a troll in the original, but here it'll try to take Earth from someone who gives it away. (So, original Mephilas's plan.) It will simply disappear when too many humans unify and reject it, promising to return in the future to try again.
- The Underground People, the most Jissoji invaders from the most Jissoji episode, will get stopped by the SSSP before they can unleash their pet monster onto the surface world... but it's Gomora instead of Telesdon. Earth dodged a bullet on that one.
- (Jamila won't appear. That'd just be cruelty for its own sake.)
- Dada showed up in the original to collect human specimens for unknown purposes. Here, they'll do so to study the use of humans as a weapon - or just collect them as weapons. And as before, they'll simultaneously be able to take a hit from an average-sized human but also get really walloped by it. Their defeat and death will be something like "pissed off Asami and left her alive; died by her hand via repeated blows from a folding chair".
- The Zettons and Kemurs don't appear as enemies, because they're too assimilated into Earth culture. (The Zettons in particular are refugees - they coincidentally had the same name as the Land of Light's ultimate weapon and the rest of the metaverse unjustly views them as ...worrying.)
