The Apothecary Diaries Movie Heads to Theaters Worldwide

The Apothecary Diaries is expanding beyond television with a new theatrical adventure set for an international release. Crunchyroll has secured the distribution rights for The Apothecary Diaries: The Late Lady’s Treasure across North America and multiple international territories, excluding most of Asia but including India. The film will first open in Japanese theaters on December 11, 2026. Release dates and ticketing details for other regions will be revealed at a later stage.

Rather than adapting an existing storyline from the light novels, the movie is built around an original concept created by series author Natsu Hyuuga. Norihiro Naganuma is directing the project at TOHO Animation STUDIO. The story sends Maomao and Jinshi far from the familiar surroundings of the imperial court after Jinshi receives an unusual mission from the emperor involving a concubine who died five years earlier. Her remains must be returned to her homeland, but their remarkably preserved condition immediately raises questions.

The investigation eventually takes Jinshi and Maomao to Binan-shu, a southern province controlled by the Bi clan. There, they arrive in a lively city built around waterways, giving Maomao the opportunity to discover unfamiliar medicines and medicinal plants. Their visit quickly becomes more dangerous as pirates search for a hidden treasure left behind by their former leader. A major incident during the concubine's funeral then sets off a series of unexpected events, placing another complex mystery in Maomao's path.

The franchise is also continuing on television. The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 began airing in Japan on October 2, 2026, with its second cour scheduled for April 2027. The anime is based on the light novels written by Natsu Hyuuga and illustrated by Toko Shino. Its story follows Maomao, a highly knowledgeable young apothecary whose life changes after she is taken to the imperial palace, where her medical expertise and sharp observational skills gradually turn her into a key figure in solving unusual illnesses, secrets and mysteries within the royal court.