2010 Anime/Gaming Movies

[Guest The Joker]

It seems that 2010 are having an Anime/Gaming face off between Dragon Ball Z and Mortal Kombat.

 

There has already been Mortal Kombat (1995) and Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997). Which were a complete disaster IMO. If this is going to be done, it has to be done right. Seeing as they only have Christopher Lambert in talks to play Lord Rayden and Chris Casamassa attached to play Scorpion. There hasnt been much more information involving its production.

 

Moving on to Dragon Ball Z, if you've seen it you'd mostly agree why people think its a hit Anime show. So with the movie, fans would expect alot. This movie could be worse than Street Fighter if they make one little mistake with it.

 

US, September 4, 2007 - It looks like 20th Century Fox is rushing the long-awaited live-action movie adaptation of Dragon Ball Z into production before the looming industry strikes happen next year.

 

According to the Montreal Gazette, Dragon Ball Z will shoot in Montreal sometime in the coming year; while an exact start date isn't known yet, the paper reports that production is expected to be completed by next July.

 

Dragon Ball Z is based on the manga by Akira Toriyama, which also beget an anime series of the same name. There's no word yet on who will write or direct the picture.

 

UPDATED: 20th Century Fox has informed IGN that this report cannot be confirmed as neither start dates nor locations are locked in at this point.

 

US, October 2, 2007 - Filmmaker James Wong has reportedly come aboard to direct the live-action feature film version of Dragon Ball Z.

 

CHUD.com reports that Wong will helm the Fox movie, which will lens in Montreal later this year. Wong's credits include The One and the first and third installments of the Final Destination franchise. He was a consulting producer on The X-Files and executive producer on Millenium, and also produced Willard and the remake of Black Christmas.

 

The site also got their hands on character breakdowns for the DBZ film. The roles that casting directors are looking to fill reportedly include Goku, Bulma, Yamcha, Master Roshi, Mai, Lord Piccolo, Chi Chi, and Gohan.

 

Dragon Ball Z is based on the manga by Akira Toriyama, which also beget an anime series of the same name.

 

Im hoping to here more information on these movies because Ive been a fan of both franchises. Anyone else interested?

Edited October 7, 2007 by The Joker

[Guest The Man Beast]

live-action movie of Dragon Ball Z would suck imo, It just wouldn't look right..

[Guest The Joker]

live-action movie of Dragon Ball Z would suck imo, It just wouldn't look right..

 

I can see your point, thats mostly why I said that if there's one little mistake. They've messed the whole movie up. Everything has to be spot on, the characters hair and clothes cant look like a Costume, it has to look real. Seeing as there will be alot of people with the same view as you, it may be impressive and prove people wrong. Im hoping it will be the first Anime turned Big Screen Movie that is actually decent. As for Mortal Kombat, Im equally minded about the third installment because Im not expecting much from the first two but then I would like it if they out-do both of them.

Edited October 7, 2007 by The Joker

[Guest Anime Otaku]

I enjoyed the first MK movie, which is considered the best game to movie translation ever along with the animated SF2 movie, but the second was a bit 'meh' so a third might be ok but not something I'd go to the cinema for. DBZ... just no, especially if they aim it at the tweens like CN did with the cut to bits tv series, but the look of the show will be impossible to recreate in reality.

[Guest Reno]

I am a HUGE Dragonball Z fanboy, and it's my favourite Animé ever (apart from Dragonball). But when I first heard the rumours of there being a live action movie, I thought it would suck... And now it's confirmed... Damn... :(

[Guest Da Showstoppa]

I enjoyed the first MK movie, which is considered the best game to movie translation ever along with the animated SF2 movie, but the second was a bit 'meh' so a third might be ok but not something I'd go to the cinema for.

 

Mortal Kombat was easily the best live action movie of a videogame (I agree SF2 anime was awesome though)

 

I think it's been wrung to death with all the substandard versions - Rayden without Christopher Lambert just seemed wrong. And the TV series was ill advised.

[Guest The Joker]

The hair itself will be very unique, it may be short but will still have some bounce to it. Ive heard Goku's costume will not be Orange but Blue (As it is in the GT Episodes I hope). Its also rumoured to be a 4 part movie, the first part being The Saiyan Saga, then of course. The Frieza, Cell and Buu Saga's.

All they need is the right cast for this movie, If rumours are true about it being a 4 part movie then the Characters will be Goku, Gohan, Krillin, Piccolo, Vegeta, Raditz and Nappa etc in the first part.

 

So who you guys think should be cast as those characters?

 

Im hoping Ray Park gets a part in this movie as The Saiyan Prince Vegeta.

Edited November 3, 2007 by The Joker

[Guest The Joker]

Dragon Ball Z Eyes Mexico

 

US, November 7, 2007 - Fox's long-awaited live-action Dragon Ball Z movie will reportedly film in Mexico rather than Montreal, as earlier reports suggested. The Durango region was said to have been selected by the film's special effects director, Ariel Shaw.

 

ComingSoon.net points out an article in the El Norte newspaper, which reports that the filmmakers plan to use the Mexiquillo Forest, Marley Ranch, Hacienda la Providencia, La Joya Ranch, Laguna Seca de Santiaguillo and a forum from a Convention Center in the Culture Institute as locations.

 

Additional shooting will take place in Estado De Mexico at the volcano Nevado de Toluca. Set construction reportedly begins this month, with filming to take place from January through March. Sources close to the studio confirm that production should be starting soon.

 

Meanwhile, a reader named "Matt" has informed IGN that the official site for cinematographer Robert McLachlan reveals that he will shoot Dragon Ball Z for director James Wong. They previously worked together on Final Destination.

 

Source: IGN

 

Your thought's on the new destination for shooting the live-action DBZ movie?

 

If you ask me, if they can't decide on a location, they will never get this movie started. It would be best to build the set's inside. Shooting outside for this kind of movie will give them many problem's.

 

Mortal Kombat Rebooted?

The latest buzz on the game-to-film franchise.

 

It seems you can forget about seeing Mortal Kombat III. Instead, the whole franchise will reportedly be getting the reboot treatment, a la Casino Royale and Batman Begins.

 

"The movie is not going to be a prequel, sequel, or in any form be related to the previous 2 movie. Pretty much like Batman Begins, is going to restart the series with new concepts, stories, etc.," a scooper informed Moviehole.net.

 

The report adds, "The reason it is taking so long is the script, so many parts are involved. The team at Threshold (the ones that holds the right to MK) are constantly writing drafts (along with the director), which they have to send to Midway (makers of the game) so the creator of the game (Ed Boon) adds notes and some input to the draft, then to the studio (rumored to be Lionsgate at this moment)."

 

Moviehole also points out that the film's director, Mink, has apparently been posting comments about the long-awaited project over at the IMDB.com message boards.

 

In his post, Mink revealed, "Casting adjourned for the moment before we got that far. As I have said in other posts we went back to the script after the initial movement on the project and have been rewriting (per the parties involved Threshold, Studio, Midway) since so no additional casting thoughts and or processes were even continued. As soon as the script is done we will proceed with casting again and all options in all casting areas are still on the table 100%."

 

The helmer reportedly confirmed that he has approached MK vets Christopher Lambert and Robin Shou about the film.

 

Source: IGN

 

Some confirmed info on the next MK Movie. Good to see Robin Shou being announced. But this info was from a while back so I guess there wont be any more info on this until they complete the script.

Edited November 8, 2007 by The Joker

[Guest Reno]

Ive heard Goku's costume will not be Orange but Blue (As it is in the GT Episodes I hope).

 

If that's true than I shall be TRUELY p*ssed off.

[Guest Jaycey Baby]

I don't get why they're bothering with another Mortal Kombat, the franchise is pretty much dead. There hasn't been a decent game in the series for eons and I can't imagine even most gamers give two hoots anymore, never mind the movie-going public, and the game didn't even have much of a backstory to begin with. Pointless.

 

Dragonball Z is a slightly more interesting proposition, though unless it's a highly stylised, green screen-shot film like Sin City, I can't see many DBZ fans warming to it. It's a very niche thing, and I think a four-parter is being overly optimistic - it's hardly a cultural phenomenon over here in the same way as, say, Lord Of The Rings or Harry Potter. Sadly, I just don't trust Hollywood to do it any kind of justice.

[Guest The Joker]

DBZ's Goku, Piccolo Picked

Marsters and Chatwin to play duo.

 

UK, November 14, 2007 - Two major bits of Dragon Ball Z casting news for you: The roles of Goku and Piccolo have been cast.

 

According to Variety, Justin Chatwin will play Goku, the powerful warrior who protects the Earth from endless hordes of evil creatures hell-bent on dominating the universe and harnessing the power of the titular, mystically powered orbs.

 

The villainous demon king Piccolo will be played by James Marsters, who made his name playing peroxide-blond bloodsucker Spike in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel.

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k259/gunter06/Others/dragonball-zs-goku-and-piccolo-c-1.jpg

Goku and Justin Chatwin

 

Chatwin doesn't have a huge amount on his CV. He had a small role in War of the Worlds and has also popped up in Lost and Smallville.

 

Apparently, he has already been training with 87Eleven, the stunt performance company behind the action sequences in The Matrix, 300 and The Bourne Supremacy.

 

Since the end of Buffy meanwhile, Marsters has been playing Professor Milton Fine in Smallville, and will also appear in the rom-com P.S., I Love You with Hilary S****.

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k259/gunter06/Others/dragonball-zs-goku-and-piccolo-cast.jpg

Piccolo and James Marsters, A.K.A Spike.

 

Final Destination helmer James Wong will direct the project, which is due to start shooting later this month.

 

These castings kind of make sense to us, visually at least, but what do you guys think?

 

Summer Dragon Ball

Anime adaptation gets an August release date.

 

UK, November 15, 2007 - Hot on the heels of yesterday's casting news, we've also learnt that the forthcoming live-action Dragon Ball movie will be released next summer.

 

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Twentieth Century Fox have announced that the production will hit screens world wide on August 15, 2008.

 

Stephen Chow, who directed the frenetic action-comedies Kung Fu Hustle and Shaolin Soccer, is set to produce, while Final Destination helmer James Wong will direct and has also re-written the original script by Ben Ramsey.

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k259/gunter06/Others/dragon-ball-out-next-summer-2007111.jpg

Some scenes from Dragon Ball maybe tricky to shoot in live-action...

 

As previously reported, Justin Chatwin will star as the heroic Goku, whilst James "Spike from Buffy" Marsters will play the villainous daemon-king Piccolo.

 

Sound's good to me, but it sounds Picollo is a Villian in the movie which is at the end of series Dragon Ball, so I doubt that Raditz (Goku's Brother) will be casted).

If they get Ray Park/Bill Goldberg for Vegeta/Nappa it will be top class. But I dont think those scenes will come until a second part is made. If they want to make this film good, they should have no choice but to put the Saiyan Prince in the movie now.

Edited November 16, 2007 by The Joker

[The Fury 65]

i wonder how this will turn out. But it looks like to me there gonna go right at the very beginning.

[Guest The Joker]

Seems that way, seeing as Picollo has been named as the main Villian, plus if you read the recent news they arent looking for anyone to fill the role of Raditz, Nappa and Vegeta. So why cant they just name it Dragon Ball? Because it seems that's what it's going to be about.

[Guest Twig]

Seems that way, seeing as Picollo has been named as the main Villian, plus if you read the recent news they arent looking for anyone to fill the role of Raditz, Nappa and Vegeta. So why cant they just name it Dragon Ball? Because it seems that's what it's going to be about.

 

Because Goku was never more than 15 years old in Dragon Ball... And DBZ is also the most preferable and profitable name from any in the series.

[Guest The Joker]

Double Casting news for Live action DBZ Movie (August 2008)

 

Dragon Ball's Bulma Cast?

Mexican star rumoured to have nabbed role.

 

UK, November 23, 2007 - The role of Bulma in the new Dragon Ball live-action movie is currently being cast, with Mexican actress Camila Sodi rumoured to have nabbed the part.

 

The story originated from the Mexican press and was subsequently reported by games site Kotaku, although it hasn't yet been confrimed by Twentieth Century Fox.

 

Camila Sodi is a big star in her native Mexico -- she had her own music show, has modelled for men's magazines and starred in Gabriel Garcia Bernal's directorial debut Deficit.

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k259/gunter06/Others/dragon-balls-bulma-cast-20071123055.jpg

Can you see Camila Sodi as Bulma?

Bulma -- who appears in Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z -- is the nagging and temperamental daughter of Dr. Briefs and is a gifted inventor.

 

Dragon Ball is set to hit screens on August 15, 2008.

 

More DBZ Cast News

Jamie Chung to play Chi Chi.

 

UK, December 6, 2007 - Jamie Chung has joined Justin Chatwin and James "Spike from Buffy" Marsters in the cast of the new live-action Dragon Ball movie.

 

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Chung, is set to play Chi Chi, the love interest of lead character Goku.

 

Chung doesn't exactly have a wealth of acting experience, with bit parts in Veronica Mars, CSI: NY and a run on MTV's The Real World about the most impressive entries on her resume.

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k259/gunter06/Others/more-dbz-cast-news-2007120602391246.jpg

Chi Chi and Jamie Chung

Hong Kong mayhem-meister Stephen Chow (Shaolin Soccer, Kung Fu Hustle), is set to produce, with Dragon Ball hitting screens on August 15, 2008.

[Guest The Joker]

From what Im gathering with the cast of this movie, they are hiring actors with nothing more than a few TV series and a couple of Movies to their resume. It all sounds like it will flop because the actors need to be right and they hire 'talent' with hardly any acting experience.

 

One more thing, I found this:

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k259/gunter06/Others/4225581221a6308645477l.jpg

 

Anyone know if its James Marsters or is it from anywhere else? Its pretty impressive to say the least.

[Guest Al Stevens]

According the IMDB it is indeed James Marsters

[Guest The Joker]

According the IMDB it is indeed James Marsters

 

Cheers!

 

He does indeed look awesome!

 

I wasnt sure if that was a 3 or an 8. If its a 3, it would be December 2003, which would mean its just a fan picture.

Edited December 9, 2007 by The Joker

[The Icon 152]

I was a big fan of the MK movie and even liked the second one. The second had no plot but I marked for all the characters I loved appearing. I would pay to see a third. Don't care for DBZ at all so pass.

[DC 536]

I have to agree with the praise for the first Mortal Kombat movie. It (for the most part) got the characters transferred correctly (with Goro being a highlight), and managed to transfer the plot of the game to the screen pretty well.

 

The second one was only ok IMO, but I really enjoyed Mortal Kombat: Conquest (so much, in fact, I'm trying to acquire the DVDs). The TV show has one of the best last episode/end scene for an action TV series ever.