Dragon Ball is going back to where the modern Super era properly began — and honestly, this remake idea makes a lot of sense.
During the Genki Dama Matsuri, held for the manga’s 40th anniversary, the franchise confirmed a new remake film for Fall 2026. The movie will retell Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods, the 2013 film written by Akira Toriyama that introduced Beerus, the God of Destruction, and the whole Super Saiyan God concept.
For fans in Malaysia and SEA who grew up arguing Goku power levels at school, this is not just “old story, new coat of paint.” Battle of Gods is basically the foundation for modern Dragon Ball. Beerus waking up from a long sleep, searching for the Super Saiyan God, and discovering that Goku is not quite the legendary rival he expected — that setup changed the franchise’s scale completely. Suddenly, Dragon Ball was not just aliens and androids anymore. It was gods, divine ki, multiverse-level fights, and a very hungry purple cat who could delete Earth if lunch was bad.
So why remake it?
The big reason: presentation.
According to the trailer shown at Dragon Ball Games Battle Hour, this version is not just reusing the 2013 movie with minor touch-ups. The remake is being rebuilt with updated animation, audio, composition, new cuts, and fully re-filmed scenes. Executive Producer Akio Iyoku also said the project features improved art quality and a full reconstruction of the story.
That matters because Dragon Ball Super’s anime run has always had one annoying reputation: when it hits, it hits hard, but the animation and pacing were not always consistent. Some fights looked legendary. Some looked like they needed another month in the oven, bro.
A rebuilt Battle of Gods gives Toei a chance to make the Goku vs Beerus fight feel as massive as fans remember it in their heads. Better cuts, cleaner action, stronger sound design — these things can turn a familiar story into something worth watching again, especially on a cinema screen.
Toriyama’s original ideas get another shot
Another interesting point is that this remake is said to stay closer to Akira Toriyama’s original drafts and concepts. Since Battle of Gods was one of the key films Toriyama directly shaped before Dragon Ball Super’s manga began, there is real value in seeing that material adapted with more care and modern production standards.
For Malaysian anime fans, this is the kind of release that could actually bring multiple generations together. Older fans remember DBZ from TV, DVDs, and playground debates. Younger fans came in through Super, FighterZ, YouTube clips, or mobile games. A polished remake of Battle of Gods sits right in the middle — nostalgic, but still relevant.
That Frieza tease is not subtle
The trailer reportedly ends with Frieza being revived, which strongly points toward another remake based on Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’. That 2015 film, also written by Toriyama, brought Frieza back after his army used the Dragon Balls to resurrect him. After realising he could not beat Goku and Vegeta at his old level, Frieza trained for four months and returned with a new form.
Frieza remains Dragon Ball’s most iconic villain for a reason. His Namek Saga battle pushed Goku into becoming a Super Saiyan for the first time — still one of shonen anime’s most important moments, no debate. If Toei is already setting him up again, this remake strategy may not stop at Battle of Gods.
Universe 6, Future Trunks, and Tournament of Power could all benefit from this treatment too. But for now, Battle of Gods is the smart place to start. It is the gateway to modern Dragon Ball, and if the remake fixes the pacing and animation complaints while keeping Toriyama’s spirit intact, SEA fans should definitely keep this on the radar.
No Malaysia release details have been confirmed yet, but if this gets a proper regional cinema rollout, expect the Dragon Ball crowd to show up loud.
Source: ComicBook Anime