Steel Ball Run: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Faces Backlash Over Fall 2026 Weekly Release
The team behind Steel Ball Run plans to roll out new episodes on a strict weekly schedule, starting in fall 2026. The series, the sixth season of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, is an adaptation of Hirohiko Araki’s long-running manga and is set in 1890, following Johnny Joestar as he competes in the Steel Ball Run horse race from San Diego to New York.
Episode 1 premiered on Netflix on March 19, 2026. However, a new official note announced that Episode 2 will arrive much later in the year, sparking disappointment among a portion of the audience.
What the announcement says
- The Netflix Anime X team confirmed a split‑cour release spanning the entire run. The second stage (cour 2) will begin streaming in fall 2026 on Netflix, with one new episode each week.
- The release plan is described as part of the original strategy and aligned with the production committee’s wishes.
- The message thanked fans for their support and asked for continued patience as the team works to bring the second stage to fruition.
Fans’ reaction: a mix of frustration and optimism
- Some viewers labeled the plan “crazy” and pushed back against a split‑cour approach, saying they didn’t want the pacing to be stretched out.
- Others welcomed the weekly cadence, but lamented the long wait before Stage 2 could begin.
- A number of fans suggested building a backlog before Episode 1 so that the weekly schedule wouldn’t stall the momentum.
- There’s concern about potential gaps after Stage 2, with questions about whether future stages will be fully ready on a weekly basis.
- Still, a portion of fans sees the proposed model as a reasonable compromise: shorter weekly releases in structured blocks could be the most sustainable way to handle a long arc like Steel Ball Run.
Overall, responses reflect appreciation for a weekly rollout, tempered by worries about the total time needed to complete the story and the possibility of intermittent breaks. For further updates on anime and JoJo-related news, keep an eye on official Netflix Anime X communications and related coverage.