Twentieth Century Fox is moving forward with a live-action "Dragonball Z"

[BENDIS!]

Twentieth Century Fox is finally moving forward with a live-action adaptation of the hugely popular manga "Dragonball," casting the stars of the movie and setting a release date of next summer.

Justin Chatwin is starring as the hero while James Marsters will play the villain in the sci-fi adventure, which will be directed by James Wong. The movie has been penciled in for a worldwide release date of Aug. 15, 2008. Stephen Chow, the filmmaker behind "Kung Fu Hustle" and "Shaolin Soccer," is producing.

"Dragonball" is one of the most successful Japanese cultural exports of all time. The manga, created by Akira Toriyama and published by Tokyo's Jump Comics, was adapted into graphic novels, video games and a phenomenally successful television series that ran in Europe, Asia, Latin America and North America. "Dragonball's" popularity also generated more than $4 billion in merchandising sales. In North America, the property achieved the zenith of its popularity under the name "Dragonball Z."

The story follows an adult humanoid alien named Goku, who discovers that he was sent to Earth to blend in and destroy our population but instead elects to protect it from an oncoming alien onslaught bent on dominating the universe and controlling the mystical objects from which the film takes its name.

Chatwin, who will play Goku, has already begun training under the auspices of stunt performance company 87Eleven, which has executed and designed action pieces in pictures such as "The Matrix," "The Bourne Supremacy," "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" and "300." Marsters is playing the villainous Piccolo.


Wong rewrote the previous draft by Ben Ramsey.

Production begins later this year. Other major roles are currently being cast.

Chatwin, repped by WMA, is best known for his playing Tom Cruise's on in Steven Spielberg's "War of the Worlds."

Marsters is best known for his role as vampire Spike on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" Piccolo. He is repped by the Kohner Agency and Himber Entertainment

Wong co-wrote and directed "Finale Destination" and "Final Destination 3," and was a writer-exec producer on "The X-Files." He is repped by Endeavor.

[Ashwin Pande]

I liked the cartoon... but to make a live action version of it? this movie will just look ridiculous.

[Lemonade Lady]

This is going to be the most fabulous trainwreck since the Super Mario Bros movie.

[EasyE726]

James Marsters as Piccolo?

If there gonna do DBZ they should start with the Saiyan saga.

[Petey Parker]

Spike is gonna be Piccolo? Can't say I saw that

[Matt Jay]

Destined to be the greatest moment in live action since Street Fighter.

[PimpSlapStick!]

I fear the worst, I see it being 'Wantedized'


Sorry Mark Millar.

[Ashwin Pande]

http://www.worstpreviews.com/images/theinvisible.gif

I... really do not see this guy as anything remotely resembling Goku.

[Bedlam66]

Oy

[PimpSlapStick!]

http://www.worstpreviews.com/images/theinvisible.gif

I... really do not see this guy as anything remotely resembling Goku.

He'd make a good Peter Parker though, if Tobey isn't come back for Spidey 4.

[Alasar]

I was hoping Marsters would be Vegeta.:(

[Evan the Shaggy]

Marsters as Picollo? Didn't see that coming.

[PimpSlapStick!]

I think this movie should be mostly asian actors, It just doesn't feel right if its a bunch of WB rejects and one former X-man.

[Mark Mavro (kryptic6)]

http://www.worstpreviews.com/images/theinvisible.gif

I... really do not see this guy as anything remotely resembling Goku.

Are you kidding me? Goku is manga character with triangles for hair. No one resembles him.

[InBendiswetrust]

Well that isnt a bad place to start. Of course they have to make more in which Piccolo is good and also Chatwin seems only good for this one. When Goku is married and stuff he might not fit.

[PimpSlapStick!]

Well that isnt a bad place to start. Of course they have to make more in which Piccolo is good and also Chatwin seems only good for this one. When Goku is married and stuff he might not fit.


I'd rather it was Jet Li as Vegeta and Colin Chou (Matrix 2&3) as Goku.

Piccolo can be a brotha. :cool:

[mike black]

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/b/b6/220px-Normal_mazur_28529.jpg

:rofl:

[PimpSlapStick!]

The hair on that pic has changed my mind.

He can be Trunks.

[Nick_Ardill]

They did this already...
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/FaranKreeg/Monky_Boy.jpg
and it was pretty bad...

[PimpSlapStick!]

They did this already...
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/FaranKreeg/Monky_Boy.jpg
and it was pretty bad...


God no I saw that in Korea a few years ago, it was good for a laugh.

[ZombieSpeedball]

http://www.worstpreviews.com/images/theinvisible.gif

I... really do not see this guy as anything remotely resembling Goku.

At the most, that is Yamcha. At the MOST. At the least, it is Chi Chi.

[Bedlam66]

James Marsters as Piccolo?

If there gonna do DBZ they should start with the Saiyan saga.
It sounds like they are Going to do the Piccolo saga from Dragon Ball and just Useing the Z to draw in more People who may not be all up to date on DBZ but know the name.

[PimpSlapStick!]

Waaaan...ted!

[ZombieSpeedball]

Alright, we must now speculate on how they are going to fuck with the details of everything. Anyone have anything?

[Bedlam66]

They did this already...
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/FaranKreeg/Monky_Boy.jpg
and it was pretty bad...
The Difference is that that movie prob had a Budget of 60k US this one is going to be more in the ballpark of 100million. And that's not to say that it couldn't end up being a 100 million crapfest but hey at least the Sfx will Rock :p

[PimpSlapStick!]

Alright, we must now speculate on how they are going to fuck with the details of everything. Anyone have anything?

Freeza is played by Angelina Jolie and Dragonballs are now a drug ala smack.

[niceguyeddie]

http://www.worstpreviews.com/images/theinvisible.gif

I... really do not see this guy as anything remotely resembling Goku.

i can't wait to see the super saiyan golden blonde hair... it's gonna be either totally wicked cool or hillarious.

masters can look more super saiyan than these guys:
http://trond.weblogg.no/moro/images/james_masters_1136751935.jpg

also, justin looks more like teenage gohan.
http://www.bakaneko.com/anime/dbz/images/favs/gohan_01.jpghttp://www.gralon.net/cinema/acteur/photo-justin-chatwin-63454.gif

[InBendiswetrust]

also, justin looks more like teenage gohan.
http://www.bakaneko.com/anime/dbz/images/favs/gohan_01.jpg


teenage gohan looks a lot like younger Goku, the age he is in this particular storyline! I'm not so sure Super Sayians will be in this first movie. Honestly, I love that scene when Goku first changes because Krillin dies. They have to do that part justice. Second movie, maybe even third. They would have to do like 5 movies to all the sagas justice:

1. Piccolo
2. Vegeta
3. Freeza
4. Cell (i just say that because Trunks and Goten are awesome.)
5. Boo (i could actually live without this one)

[Icaruss]

This will only end in tears.

[niceguyeddie]

teenage gohan looks a lot like younger Goku, the age he is in this particular storyline! I'm not so sure Super Sayians will be in this first movie. Honestly, I love that scene when Goku first changes because Krillin dies. They have to do that part justice. Second movie, maybe even third. They would have to do like 5 movies to all the sagas justice:

1. Piccolo
2. Vegeta
3. Freeza
4. Cell (i just say that because Trunks and Goten are awesome.)
5. Boo (i could actually live without this one)

5 movies!!??




that'd be awesome. I'd love to see that trainwreck.

[Kefky]

I'm sorry, but there's no way this can work. Dragonball was never meant to be live-action. Everybody's gonna look seriously stupid.

[emeraldsundae]

I just heard about this today.

It got a 'Holy shit!" out of me.

That's as far as it went.

[Georgie]

http://www.japanator.com/elephant//ul/6836-AANDO_YAMCHA.jpg

He's auditioned for it, anyway...

[niceguyeddie]

some first look pics of Goku:
http://blogs.hoycinema.com/myfiles/movieland/dbzmex1.jpg
http://blogs.hoycinema.com/myfiles/movieland/dbzmex2.jpg

also, meet the new Bulma:
http://blogs.hoycinema.com/myfiles/movieland/emmy_rossum.jpg

[Greenville 90210]

Vin Diesel should play Piccolo.

[Jim.]

Wow I think this is going to be awful.

[c.rob]

so its set during dragonball which means no super saiyans which is what we all really want to see anyway

This will be twice as bad and obscurely released as the DOA movie

[UltimateFactor]

Doesn't matter if this is based on Dragon Ball back when Goku was a boy, no way in hell they do a movie without him going Super Saiyan at the end. There's almost no chance of a sequel...ever...so they'll need some SSJ shots in the trailers to make as much money as they can before shit hits the fans. And to be honest, if they keep the flying to a bare minimum, the action might not be all that bad.

[Dreg]

Bendis, the title of this thread is misleading. Dragonball is totally worthy of a filmed version for the kiddies. DBZ, on the other hand...

[Foolish Mortal]

I'm sorry, but there's no way this can work. Dragonball was never meant to be live-action. Everybody's gonna look seriously stupid.
Furthermore, the stories are firmly set in Asian mythologies and culture. It looks to me they're going to "westernize" it. Stuff will be lost in translation.

[UltimateFactor]

Furthermore, the stories are firmly set in Asian mythologies and culture. It looks to me they're going to "westernize" it. Stuff will be lost in translation.

Which means SSJ WAY before it's time just to please movie goers.

[EasyE726]

I hope that isn't his outfit in the movie..

And if that yellow car is called the Nimbus...

*shakes fist*

[Foolish Mortal]

I hope that isn't his outfit in the movie..

And if that yellow car is called the Nimbus...

*shakes fist*
I could be wrong, but I'm really getting an "Epic Fail" vibe from this.

[InBendiswetrust]

I hope that isn't his outfit in the movie..

And if that yellow car is called the Nimbus...

*shakes fist*

Seconded.

Neither are probably the case.

[Cth]

A manip..

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c294/jamce/goku-pumped.jpg

Wow, what a trainwreck.

30 mil, THIS summer, etc?!

[Black Roman]

This will either be the breatest idea of all time . . . or the worst. I don't see a grey area.

[niceguyeddie]

Chow Yun-Fat is the latest to join 20th Century Fox's live-action adaptation of "Dragonball."

Chow will play Master Roshi. He rounds out a cast that includes Justin Chatwin, James Marsters, Emmy Rossum and Jamie Chung. Chow is repped by CAA.

"Dragonball" is shooting in Mexico City and Los Angeles.

The film, directed by James Wong, follows Goku (Chatwin), a warrior alien who protects the Earth from an endless stream of rogues bent on dominating the universe and controlling mystical objects known as Dragon Balls. Stephen Chow is producing.

Master Roshi is Goku's mentor, helping him achieve the highest state of fighting and spiritual powers.

http://www.animewolken.nl/dragonball/mist/roshi.jpghttp://www.iwatchstuff.com/2007/06/15/chow-yun-fat-cut.jpg

[ZombieSpeedball]

Vin Diesel should play Piccolo.

No. No he should not. I want James Marsters as Piccolo. Or if not Piccolo, Vegeta.

Anyone thinking about who should play Krillin?

[EasyE726]

So now it is Dragonball? Not Z?

[niceguyeddie]

No. No he should not. I want James Marsters as Piccolo. Or if not Piccolo, Vegeta.

Anyone thinking about who should play Krillin?

http://cache.viewimages.com/xc/1429191.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF1939057D9939C83F1063792D083FCD8CB33 5A5397277B4DC33E

[TheChronoTrigger]

They better get this guy for Mr. Satan
http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/6707/mrsatanhs0.jpg

If I had a scanner that could detect how much this movie is going suck, it would be OVER NINE THOUSAND!!!!