Takeshi Hongo/Kamen Rider's Shocker designation is BATTA AUGMENT-01
This is based on how the designations for the film's versions of the Spider Man, the Bat Man, and the Bee Woman are respectively named after the insects/animals they are based on: "Kumo Augment-01", "Koumori Augment-01", and "Hachi Augment-01". In Japanese, "batta" is the word for grasshoppers, which is what both Kamen Rider and Kamen Rider No. 2's augmentations are based on.- Confirmed pretty much: [1]
- Confirmed pretty much: [1]
Shocker is more of a Cult in this film
Shocker's "mission statement" is happiness for mankind, but their methods—brainwashing and body modification—are rather sinister. Not helped by the appearance of the Bat Man and the Wasp Woman, who have both exhibited Mind Control powers in the original series—powers that would be a great boon for Shocker.- Going off of both Anno's penchant for Deconstruction and the definition of the Cult trope, SHOCKER's supposed goal for "happiness for mankind" is nothing more than a front. Even if SHOCKER's lower-ranking members genuinely believe in its mission statement, that doesn't necessarily mean their leader(s) do. So it's possible that SHOCKER's REAL goal is still Wolrd Domination as it was in the original series, only in this movie, it's covered by a veil of false benevolence.
- On the other, SHOCKER might provide some valid points about the state of humanity that drives theme to perform human augmentation.
There might be a scene that reveals the extent of Augment's cybernetics
Similar to this scene in the Robocop remake, there is a chance we might see (if the trench coat theory is correct) Hongo or someone else rebuilt by SHOCKER as practically a head on top of a robot body. Maybe even before the uniform is put on. It could be a Creation Sequence or a reveal, like the aforementioned movie scene, of how much SHOCKER "remodels" humans.- The February 10 2023 promotional video gives us a look at Kamen Rider's hand being rather unhealthy looking, though this is post-augmentation.
There will be a tease for a "Shin Kamen Rider V3" at some point in the movie.
- Jossed. Instead, Anno announced in a post-screening conference that the potential sequel to Shin Kamen Rider will be an adaptation of the last arc of Ishinomori's Kamen Rider manga titled "Masker World", which he would wish getting a greenlight by Toei in the future.
The Kamen Riders are permanently transformed. Thus, while there may be a Transformation Sequence, the shout of "Henshin!" will not be present in the movie.
In the original TV show, the "Rider Henshin!" shout didn't appear immediately. It was only started with Hayato Ichimonji/Kamen Rider No. 2, whose actor's lack of a motorcycle license precluded him from Takeshi Hongo's/Kamen Rider's motorcycle-centric Transformation Sequence.
- On the other hand, if Rider 2 was made by SHOCKER to replace Hongo, it stands to reason that they might give him a few upgrades to surpass Hongo. In a potential Call-Back to how the concept was introduced in Kamen Rider, one of those upgrades might be the Transformation Sequence, allowing Ichimonji to outwardly change to his "human" form.
One or both Kamen Riders will die by the end of the movie, possibly as a Heroic Sacrifice
Meta-level guess, but previous Shin film installment Shin Ultraman ended with its hero giving his life for his human host. This film might see such a sacrifice as well.
- Zig-zagged: Takeshi does end up dying, but his consciousness got uploaded to his helmet in a similar way to his Brain Uploading in the manga, so in a sense, he lives on as a guide to Hayato, who took his helmet in honor to him.
There's a chance that Hongo could come back
In another Call-Back to the manga, a potential sequel to Shin Kamen Rider could see Hongo's mind being transferred from Ishimonji's helmet to a new robot/cyborg body, with his Rider form sporting a black/green color scheme similar to Hongo's "Sakurajima" suit when he came back to the original show.
- It's also possible that that new body could be an improved version of SHOCKER AI K's robot body.
