The official website for animation studio Khara's final installment in the Rebuild of Evangelion film series, Evangelion: 3.0+1.0, announced on Friday that the film's theatrical release will be postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. It was scheduled to premiere on June 27. A key visual (pictured right) was also released featuring the film's new English title—Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time.

A handwritten statement from original creator, general director, planner, and screenwriter Hideaki Anno was posted on the official website. In his statement, Anno expresses sympathy for those affected by the virus, gratitude for medical workers and others fighting it, and apologizes to fans of the franchise for the many delays the film has faced.

Briefly revealed with a 2013 premiere on New Year's Eve in 2011, it was soon delayed to 2015. In October 2014, its premiere was postponed once again due to Anno's commitment as director for the live-action film Shin Godzilla. Production would resume and the first ten minutes of the film were screened at a number of events worldwide on July 6 last year.

With Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 previously scheduled to premiere a little more than two months from now, the official website released a comprehensive list of key staff members involved in its production. In addition to the previously announced staff, and Anno himself as credited above, the following contributed to the film:

Director: Kazuya Tsurumaki (Rebuild of Evangelion film series, FLCL), Katsuichi Nakayama (Full Metal Panic! Invisible Victory)
Assistant Director: Touko Yatabe (Gegege no Kitarou (2018) episode director), Daizen Komatsuda (Bubuki Buranki director)
Assistant Chief Director: Ikki Todoroki (Rebuild of Evangelion film series)
Chief Animation Director: Atsushi Nishigori (Darling in the FranXX director)
Animation Director: Shuuichi Iseki (Cutie Honey Universe), Se-jun Kim (Mobile Suit Gundam: Twilight Axis), Naoyuki Asano (Eizouken ni wa Te wo Dasu na!), Masayoshi Tanaka (Kokoro ga Sakebitagatterunda.), Kouichi Arai (Birthday Wonderland)
Design Works: Ikuto Yamashita (Neon Genesis Evangelion mechanical design), Toshiaki Ihara (Full Metal Panic! mechanical design), Shigeto Koyama (Koukyoushihen Eureka Seven mechanical design), Moyoco Anno (Kantoku Fuyuki Todoki original creator), Takeshi Takakura (Planetes mechanical design), Takashi Watabe (Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance)
CGI Director: Daisuke Onizuka (Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo)
CGI Art Director: Hiroyasu Kobayashi (Uchuu Patrol Luloco art director)
2DCG Director: Kayoko Zama (Promare motion graphics)
In-between Animation Inspection: Yasuhito Murata (Houkago no Pleiades)
Color Design (previously listed as Color Setting): Kazuko Kikuchi (Boku no Hero Academia)
Art Director (previously listed as Background Art): Tatsuya Kushida (Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo)
Concept Art Director: Mahiro Maeda (SSSS.Gridman creature design)
Director of Photography: Tooru Fukushi (Osomatsu-san)
Special Skill Director: Toyonori Yamada (Little Witch Academia)
Editing: Emi Tsujita (Ryuu no Haisha)
Music: Shirou Sagisu (Neon Genesis Evangelion, Bleach)
Sound Effects: Tooru Noguchi (Made in Abyss)
Recording: Makoto Sumiya (Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance)
Dialogue Director: Haru Yamada (Sore ga Seiyuu! recording)
Supervising Producer: Takatoshi Okajima (Gankutsuou assistant production manager)
Animation Producer: Yuuki Sugitani (Nihon Animator Mihonichi production manager)
Setting Production: Hayato Tanaka (Kidou Keisatsu Patlabor: Reboot)
Previz General Production (Motion Storyboard): Masanori Kawashima (Dokumushi live-action film producer)
Executive Producer: Tomoyuki Ogata (Mary to Majo no Hana production committee)
Production, Promotion, Development: Khara
Distribution: Toho, Toei, Khara

Source: Comic Natalie