Joblo.com got exclusive photos from the set of the upcoming live action adaptation of Dragon Ball.
That’s how Goku will look like in the film; spiky hair and wearing that iconic orange outfit. BTW, that’s not Justin Chatwin, the actor portraying Goku. The guy in the picture is probably a stunt man.
It’s Bulma!! HAHAHA Wow! I think they got that “badass adventurous chick” attitude from the anime right. But the hair…umm…I don’t like it. And I see bits of blue colour in her hair too.
Mai played by Eriko Tamura. She’s one of the villain who works for Piccolo (in the anime, she was one of the Red Ribbon army).
For the past few weeks, there has been many casting news on the upcoming live action adaptation of the Dragon Ball. I didn’t post those casting news because I was waiting for the official casting of the main characters in this movie to be completed so I could put it in a single post. Here it is together with the casting description courtesy of CHUD.com:
Goku – Justin Chatwin
18 years old, Goku is considered uncool and unpopular at school, but he is in fact an extremely talented martial arts fighter who gets rigorous training from his grandfather, Gohan. After the death of his grandfather by the evil Lord Piccolo, Goku finds his destiny in his grandfather’s dying request that he find Master Roshi and gather all seven Dragon Balls (of which he has one) in order to prevent Piccolo from succeeding in his desire to use the dragonballs to take over the world. Trained by Master Roshi, aided by Bulma and Yamcha, friends he meets along the way, Goku proves himself a formidable, almost undefeatable fighter. On many dangerous adventures to find the remaining Dragon Balls and thus save the world, Goku conquers physical and emotional challenges, ultimately saving the world but clearly impelled to spend his life searching for the Dragon Balls with his trusty companions.
Piccolo – James Marsters
An ancient being who despite his humanoid appearance, is from an alien race determined to take over the world. Piccolo is the cursed ruler of a demonic race who nearly destroyed Earth 2000 years ago, and with the coming of the eclipse and the possession of all seven Dragon Balls, he’s prepared to free himself and do the job right this time. Crafty and smart, Piccolo has some disturbing news for Goku, namely that the boy is actually a Saiyan who’s destined to join Piccolo as his right hand in destroying and enslaving the planet.
Bulma – Emmy Rossum
20s, female, pretty, with great intelligence behind her gleaming eyes, Bulma is a determined, competitive young woman whose father’s five star Dragon Ball was stolen by Lord Piccolo, and who believes that she can harness their unlimited energy and change the world like Edison or Einstein. Bulma, who has a DBE (a Dragon Ball locator device), teams up with Goku, and with him meets up with Master Roshi and Yamcha as they attempt to collect the missing Dragon Balls before Piccolo can destroy the world. A resourceful and courageous young woman who’s also a weapons expert, she overcomes many obstacles with her colleagues, only to find the seven Dragon Balls ultimately snatched from their grasp–but it’s clear she’s going to continue searching for them with Goku and Yamcha
Yamcha – Joon Park
20s, “the bad boy who has no trouble attracting women,” An ingenious young man whose utililty truck is the Swiss Army Knife of trucks–every tool and gear imaginable sprouts from its body–Yamcha joins Goku, Bulma (with whom he becomes romantically involved) and Master Yoshi on their quest to find the seven Dragon Balls before Piccolo
Mai – Eriko Tamura
Late 20s, female, her features exotic, sexy but deadly, dressed in gleaming black, with weapons strapped all over her body, she’s a martial arts expert and Lord Piccolo’s chief enforcer.
Chi Chi – Jamie Chung
Goku’s lifelong love interest, Chi Chi is an attractive, tom boy-ish young woman who has grown up with Goku. She has studied martial arts and has always suspected that Goku possesses talents that are unusual and extraordinary. After Goku embarks on his journey to redeem his grandfather’s death, Chi Chi meets up with Goku and his crew at a tournament of champions where their mutual attraction finally heats up during a training session.
Master Roshi – Chow Yun Fat
This older man is a good friend of Goku’s grandfather, Gohan, and Goku comes to enlist his help after his grandfather is killed. Although he looks like a beggar, Roshi is one of the world’s most fearsome fighters. Master Roshi begins Goku’s rigorous training to prepare him for the adventure of finding and fighting for the seven Dragon Balls to save the world from Piccolo’s destructive plan. A wise, somewhat wry man who knows as much about human nature as he does about martial arts, Master Roshi is impressed with Goku’s fighting but reminds him of his failings as well.
The cast has been pretty weird. Marsters as Piccolo and Rossum as Bulma seems good. I’m not too sure about Yamcha and Chi Chi (she’s too hot for Chi Chi LOL). And Chow Yun Fat as Roshi..that could either be the greatest casting ever or the most f***ed up. LOL It’s Chow Yun Fat, I think he can pull it off.
Original Japanese opening of Dragon Ball Z
This video brings back memories.
Dragon Ball Z is one of those things that is considered to be ‘unadaptable’ into a live action movie. But you know, the Lord of the Rings trilogy was considered to be ‘unadaptable’ and so was Transformers. So I think it’s possible to adapt Dragon Ball Z’s crazy mid air fights and power balls with today’s technology (we kinda achieved it withMatrix Revolutions). But the problem is not whether we can adapt it or not but whether we can adapt it ‘correctly’. There is a Dragon Ball live action movie in the making and the recent casting news would definitely divide fans. Ladies and gentlemen, here’s Goku and Piccolo (who will be the villain in the movie).
VS
Yes that’s right!! It’s that kid from War of the Worlds vs Spike!!! Here’s the story from ComingSoon.net:
“20th Century Fox has set Justin Chatwin (The Invisible, War of the Worlds) to play Goku and James Marsters (“Smallville,” “Angel,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”) as the villain Piccolo in Dragon Ball Z.In the big screen adaptation, Goku is a powerful warrior who protects the Earth from an endless stream of rogues bent on dominating the universe and controlling the mystical objects from which the film takes its name. Actor/writer/director Stephen Chow (Kung Fu Hustle) is producing. Final Destinationhelmer James Wong will direct from a script he wrote. Ben Ramsey wrote an earlier draft.The story is based on Akira Toriyama’s popular manga that has spawned graphic novels, a long-running TV series and more than 25 video games. The Jump Comics division of Tokyo-based Shueisha published the “Dragon Ball” manga.With shooting scheduled to begin later this month, Fox will bow the sci-fi/adventure worldwide Aug. 15. Chatwin has already begun training with 87Eleven, the stunt performance company behind the action sequences in The Matrix, The Bourne Supremacy,Mr. & Mrs. Smith and 300.”
I kinda see Marsters as Piccolo but Goku played by Justin Chatwin? Nah! But despite my mixed feelings for the casting I’m still going watch it anyway. I hope it’s at least entertaining and filled with crazy martial arts action like the anime (someone in this movie needs to throw someone else to ground and leave behind a crater!!). But as an adaptation of Dragon Ball Z, this project is not looking good. But who knows, Justin Chatwin could surprise us all as Goku!
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