Japanese multimedia franchise “Hypnosismic” is to expand and include an interactive feature film “Hypnosis Mic – Division Rap Battle” that will release in February next year.

The franchise was developed at King Records in 2017 and involves a world where weapons have been banned and men must fight for supremacy through rap battles. The “Hypnosismic” universe has already diversified into music, radio dramas, manga, stage productions, games and a TV animation (anime) series.

The new film is directed by Tsujimoto Takanori (“Resident Evil: Vendetta”) through Polygon Pictures. The screenplay is by Momose Yuichiro, who was previously a developer of the franchise’s story, characters and games. Character design is by Kazui.

The picture is pitched as Japan’s first interactive movie and involves a new rap battle. The story and the winner of the contest, known as the Third Division Rap Battle, can vary at each different screening, with the outcomes driven...