The skeletal overlord Ainz Ooal Gown has conquered hearts and kingdoms alike since Overlord first stormed the anime scene back in 2015. That mix of ruthless strategy, over-the-top magic, and a protagonist who’s equal parts scheming genius and accidental hero keeps drawing people in. Season 4 wrapped up in 2022 with a bang—literally, if you count the fiery downfall of the Re-Estize Kingdom—and the Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom movie hit theaters in September 2024, adapting volumes 12 and 13. Now, with whispers of production heating up, excitement for Season 5 is bubbling over like one of Demiurge’s infernal schemes.
Fans have been glued to every leak, tweet, and convention panel, piecing together clues like adventurers hunting for rare loot. This guide rounds up the latest on when Overlord might return, who’s voicing the chaos, and what wild twists await in the New World. Spoiler-light for anime-only viewers, but brace for some light teases if you’ve read ahead.
Overlord Season 5 Release Details
Overlord seasons don’t rush in like a poorly planned raid boss fight. Season 4 got announced in May 2021 and premiered 14 months later in July 2022. If history repeats, count on a similar gap from the September 2024 greenlight.
Speculation from Reddit threads and YouTube breakdowns (shoutout to channels like ANIKINGZ) pegs a late 2026 slot, possibly October or November, to sync with fall anime cour. Some insiders whisper early 2027 if post-production drags, especially with Madhouse juggling other projects. The Sacred Kingdom movie took three years from announcement to screen, so no one’s shocked by the wait.
Crunchyroll will likely snag global streaming rights again, with dubs rolling out shortly after subbed episodes. Mark your calendars loosely—trailers often drop 4-6 months out, so mid-2026 could bring the first glimpses of Ainz’s next conquest.
Overlord Season 5 Cast News
Overlord‘s voice talent turns undead hordes into unforgettable icons, and Season 5 looks set to reunite the dream team. No full cast list has been unveiled, but convention buzz and studio sightings suggest heavy continuity.
Japanese Dub Stalwarts
- Satoshi Hino reprises his role as Ainz Ooal Gown/Momonga, that gravelly tone dripping with undead menace. Hino’s been the skeletal face of the series since day one.
- Yumi Hara channels Albedo’s obsessive fury once more—her delivery in Season 4’s throne room scenes still gives chills.
- Expect the Floor Guardians to roar back: Masayuki Kato as the scheming Demiurge, Kenta Miyake booming as the honorable Cocytus, and Emiri Kato for the pint-sized terror Aura Bella Fiora.
- Side favorites like Manami Numakura (Narberal Gamma) and Sumire Uesaka (Shalltear Bloodfallen) popped up in 2025 fan meets, hinting at recordings. Rumors swirl about Jouji Nakata joining as a mysterious God-kin from the Slane Theocracy—his deep timbre would fit a divine antagonist like a glove.
English Dub All-Stars
Funimation/Crunchyroll’s dub crew locked in commitments at San Diego Comic-Con 2025. Chris Guerrero returns as Ainz, nailing that mix of corporate droning and world-ending gravitas. Elizabeth Maxwell brings Albedo’s yandere edge, while Sarah Wiedenheft (fresh from Neia in the movie) teases more holy kingdom fallout.
Bryan Massey (Cocytus) and Jeff Johnson (Demiurge) are shoo-ins, with Jill Harris (Aura) confirmed via social media posts. Newcomers could include voices for elven royals and beastman warlords—keep an eye on panels for reveals.
The cast’s chemistry shines in interviews, like Guerrero and Wiedenheft’s CBR chat about Ainz’s “failing upwards” charm. These pros make Nazarick feel like a dysfunctional family reunion gone gloriously wrong.
Overlord Season 5 Potential Plot
Season 4 ended with the Sorcerer Kingdom flexing its muscles, Re-Estize in ruins, and alliances shifting like sand. The Sacred Kingdom movie bridged the gap, showcasing Ainz’s “benevolent” interventions against demonic hordes. Season 5 dives into Volumes 15 and 16—the “Half-Elf God-Kin” arc—potentially stretching to 17 and 18 for a grand finale.
Without ruining the light novel magic, here’s the flavor:
- Elf Country Shenanigans: Ainz ventures into the Elf Kingdom (think E-Rantel vibes but with ancient trees and haughty archers). Political backstabbing and a looming war with the human-supremacist Slane Theocracy crank up the tension. Expect divine artifacts, half-elf royals, and Ainz playing 4D chess while his minions handle the fireworks.
- Dragonic Kingdom Drama: Queen Draudillon Oriculus seeks Nazarick’s aid against savage beastman invasions. Alliances come at a price—Nazarick’s “help” always hides strings. This arc blends high-stakes diplomacy with brutal battlefield clashes, highlighting Ainz’s growing legend (and the world’s terror).
- Nazarick’s Simmering Shadows: Albedo’s ambitions bubble under the surface, while Floor Guardians like Demiurge plot expansions. Fan-favorite holdovers from Season 4, like Renner’s twisted evolution, get callbacks that tie loose ends.
Critics call Volumes 15-16 “mehtier” than the Paladin arc’s highs, but they ramp up world-building and set up an epic close. Ainz’s overpowered antics mix with rare moments of vulnerability—will his gamer instincts crack under god-like pressure? Madhouse’s animation could elevate the scale, with more fluid spell effects and gore than ever.
If Volumes 17-18 drop as planned, Season 5 might crown the series, destroying (or saving?) another nation in the prologue for “balance,” as Maruyama cheekily noted.
