The wait for Overlord Season 5 feels endless, but the hype keeps building. Ever since Season 4 dropped that jaw-dropping finale in 2022, fans have scoured every interview, tweet, and manga chapter for clues. This dark fantasy juggernaut—where a skeletal overlord rules with cold logic and unmatched power—refuses to fade into the background. Here’s everything known so far about the next chapter, straight from the latest whispers in the anime world.
Is Season 5 Actually Happening?
No official trailer or green light from Studio Madhouse has hit yet, but the signs look promising. The light novels, penned by Kugane Maruyama, keep rolling out. Volumes 17 and 18 landed in 2024, packed with political intrigue, brutal battles, and Nazarick’s ever-expanding influence. That’s more than enough fuel for a full season.
Back in February 2025, producer Kazufumi Kikushima told Anime News Network the team still burns to bring Ainz’s story forward. Crunchyroll teased Overlord in its “coming soon” lineup during a spring preview event. Kadokawa, the publisher behind the franchise, also updated the official website with a mysterious “To Be Continued” banner. Put the pieces together—production gears are turning.
When Will Overlord Season 5 Drop?
Nothing’s carved in stone, but anime release patterns tell a story. Season 1 debuted in 2015. Season 2 and 3 followed in 2018, back-to-back. Season 4 took four years, landing in 2022. The gap usually stems from waiting on new novel volumes and giving Madhouse time to craft those jaw-dropping magic sequences.
Word on the street points to summer or fall 2026. If voice recording kicked off after Volume 18’s release, animation could finish by early next year. Tokyo’s anime expos in 2026—especially AnimeJapan in March—will likely host the big reveal. Mark the calendar and refresh the Overlord Twitter feed.
Who’s Coming Back? Cast Scoop
The Japanese voice cast owns these roles. Satoshi Hino returns as Ainz Ooal Gown, delivering every chilling line with perfect menace. Yumi Hara breathes life into Albedo’s unhinged devotion. Expect the full Nazarick crew:
- Narberal Gamma – Manami Numakura (spotted in studio selfies with cryptic captions)
- Cocytus – Kenta Miyake (confirmed at a 2025 fan meet)
- Demiurge – Masayuki Kato (teased “bigger plans” on a radio show)
English dub fans rejoice—Chris Guerrero and Elizabeth Maxwell locked in their roles during a Crunchyroll panel at Comic-Con 2025. New faces from the Slane Theocracy and Dragonic Kingdom will join the fray. Rumors swirl about Jouji Nakata voicing a high-ranking God-kin, a casting choice that would send chills down any fan’s spine.
Plot Teasers: What Happens Next?
Season 4 left Re-Estize Kingdom in flames. Ainz declared total war, and the Floor Guardians unleashed hell. Season 5 picks up in Volumes 15 and 16, diving into the kingdom’s collapse and the Sorcerer Kingdom’s unstoppable rise.
Expect these major beats:
- Re-Estize Falls Hard – Princess Climb scrambles to save her people. Brain Unglaus faces his final stand. The siege blends strategy and slaughter in true Overlord fashion.
- Dragonic Kingdom in Crisis – Queen Draudillon begs Ainz for help against beastmen hordes. The deal comes with strings—Nazarick never gives without taking.
- Nazarick’s Inner Chaos – Albedo plots in the shadows. Demiurge misreads Ainz’s casual comments as world-ending schemes. The comedy cuts deep amid the carnage.
- Slane Theocracy Strikes Back – Black Scripture deploys elite warriors. God-kin awaken. Ainz finally meets foes who might—might—challenge him.
The tone stays grim. Maruyama loves exploring power’s corruption, loyalty’s blindness, and the terror of an unchallenged ruler. Madhouse will flex with massive spell animations—think Reality Slash carving mountains and Ia Shub-Niggurath summoning nightmares.
