JoJo Fans Are Worried About Steel Ball Run After Netflix Acquired Warner Bros

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is among the longest-running anime series of all time. Based on the story written by Hirohiko Araki, the series has become a major hit with viewers, which is why it is one of the few manga titles to sell over 100 million copies. The distinguishing feature of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is how it is divided into multiple parts, but the characters and stories are interconnected.

Currently, Araki is writing the ninth and possibly the final part in the JoJo franchise. Meanwhile, the anime is covering the seventh part, called Steel Ball Run. Most people who have read Steel Ball Run consider it to be the best part in the entire franchise, which is why there is a great degree of excitement among fans. However, the recent news about Warner Bros. being bought by Netflix has shaken them.

Netflix Is Leading The Race To Buy Warner Bros.

Netflix believes that it will get the deal across the line

Warner Bros. owns the rights to many iconic anime

Not so long ago, it was revealed that Netflix had submitted a bid of over $80 billion to purchase Warner Bros. The latter owns the right to JoJo’s Bizarre Adventures and several other anime series. So, why is it worrying? If Netflix gets ahold of Warner Bros., it means the company can do whatever it wants with the projects, and it would become a monopoly. For instance, when Stone Ocean was confirmed to be a Netflix exclusive, it shifted its release schedule.

Instead of releasing new episodes every week, Netflix began releasing them in batches. One can understand the desire to binge through 10+ episodes, especially if it brings an end to the story. However, that was not the case with Stone Ocean.

Stone Ocean’s Format Spoiled Its Hype

Fans had to wait for months to watch new episodes. This gap ruined the momentum and hype. After all, there is a reason why most anime release episodes on a weekly basis, instead of dropping a batch. Anime like Jujutsu Kaisen, My Hero Academia, and One Piece are in the news every week because they release new episodes every week. A few days before the episode, a preview is released, which gets fans talking about what is going to happen.

Once the episode airs, there is another discussion about it. Furthermore, it allows fans to analyze even the smallest things. In a way, the entire process is considered sacred by the anime community, and unfortunately, Netflix’s model doesn’t allow that.

There Is Still Hope For Steel Ball Run

Coming to Steel Ball Run, it is one of the best, if not the best manga, of all time. The story is phenomenal, the characters are amazing, and the action is mind-blowing. An adaptation has been announced, which will air on Netflix. Considering Netflix’s history, it is entirely plausible that the Steel Ball Run anime will have the same release schedule as Stone Ocean. Before the acquisition, there was a chance that Netflix could have changed the schedule, but it looks much more difficult now.

On a side note, Netflix buying Warner Bros. will also impact the theatrical release of many movies. Previously, Netflix’s boss Ted Sarandos called theaters an outdated model. He also claimed that Netflix was ‘helping’ Hollywood with streaming. It is worth mentioning that Paramount has put in a new offer to buy Warner Bros. Paramount’s bid is in excess of $100 billion, which is much higher than Netflix’s offer. However, there have been no updates since then.

Steel Ball Run Release Date

JoJo fans are rightly worried about their franchise’s future, but at the moment, all they can do is hope that Netflix respects their wishes and releases the Steel Ball Run anime weekly. Currently, there is no news about what month the anime is going to be released. However, it has been confirmed that Steel Ball Run will air sometime in 2026. Since the Winter 2026 season is about to begin, it’s unlikely that the anime will be part of the lineup.

It makes more sense for the Steel Ball Run anime to be released in Spring 2026. If the anime has the same format as Stone Ocean, then the next two batches will drop sometime in 2027. For reference, the first batch of Stone Ocean was released in December 2021, and the second in September 2022. The third and final batch dropped in December 2022. Another thing that will be worth seeing is the episode count. The Steel Ball Run manga has 95 chapters, which may not seem like a lot, but readers who have gone through the manga know that each chapter is filled with a lot of details. So, based on that, it is possible the Steel Ball Run anime will have around 38–40 episodes.

Steel Ball Run is highly rated by viewers because it has some of the best storytelling in manga history. It follows the story of Johnny Joestar, a paraplegic. Once a famed jockey, Johnny fell from grace and was shunned by everyone. He spent years in a wheelchair, often reminiscing about the past. On a fateful day, Johnny meets Gyro Zeppeli, a participant of the Steel Ball Run race, and his life changes completely.