It’s true! Fuji has recently brought back Fuji Acros in the form of Acros II. The announcement was made by Fujifilm Corporation on November 13, 2019. The film was first introduced in Japan but is now available in the US and other markets.
From Fuji’s website, https://www.fujifilmusa.com/press/news/display_news?newsID=881726
“TOKYO, November 13, 2019 – FUJIFILM Corporation (President: Kenji Sukeno) announced that the new generation of NEOPAN 100 ACROS II (ACROS II) black-and-white film will be available in Japan starting November 22, 2019. After the initial launch of ACROS II in Japan, Fujifilm anticipates introduction of the black-and-white film in select overseas markets, including the U.S., by early 2020. The reformulated ACROS II film has all the most-loved features of its predecessor, including unsurpassed high-resolution, fine grain and sharpness. To meet the needs of film enthusiasts of today’s market, ACROS II will be available in 35mm and 120 size formats.
Utilizing Fujifilm’s proprietary Super Fine-Σ particle technology, ACROS II offers a high-level of granularity with pristine resolution achieved at a sensitivity of ISO 100. Fujifilm has achieved this level of image quality at high-sensitivity due to its longstanding history of film development and manufacturing, which has allowed it to precisely control the size and composition of silver halide grains contained in photographic film, contributing to the final image quality and aesthetic in prints. The sharpness achieved in ACROS II film will detail fine textures, making it an ideal selection to use in a wide-range of situations including landscape, portraits, commercial, architectural and even astronomical and night photography. Building on these characteristics, ACROS II will offer slightly higher contrast gradation in highlight areas when compared to the conventional ACROS film.
As the demand for film decreased and raw materials became difficult to procure, Fujifilm discontinued the sale of black-and-white film in 2018. Due to recent interest from millennials and GenZs, who have become the newest film enthusiasts, Fujifilm developed a plan to revive black-and-white film to meet new market demands.
As a leading company in the imaging field, Fujifilm will never stop striving to meet the diverse needs of customers in a wide range of fields, from analog to digital, and continue to provide improved products and services.”