Oda’s ONE PIECE Sets The Course For Live-Action Movie, First Casting Announced
As of today, the fascination of turning anime and manga properties can now extend to author Oda Eiichiro’s popular work, One Piece. Of course, this mark yet another addition to my own anime absorption homework this year, but an official announcement was just published solidifying its first two leads, with actor Kubota Masataka fresh off the success of Japan’s Hulu Hit series, HiGH&LOW and it’s forthcoming film next month.
Also set to star is Chinese pop idol Xie Leilei of GNZ48 which might be a peculiar casting choice for critics observant of this kind of thing…I’m not sure. At any rate, Kubota as the choice to play elastic adventurer and aspiring Pirate King, Monkey D. Luffy as he and his loyal friends battle demons, monsters and enemies galore could be an interesting one. If it works, then it works, but for those of you familiar with One Piece, what do you think? Check out the full press announcement below and comment just beneath with your thoughts!
BEIJING–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Shanghai Minghuan Investment Co., Ltd., a Chinese company based in Shanghai, recently announced that the company has bought the copyright of the popular Japanese manga and TV anime One Piece from the manga artist and owner of One Piece Eiichiro Oda for 1.6 billion Yen (US$ 15.1 million) and plans to adapt it into a live-action film.
One Piece has enjoyed widespread popularity across the globe ever since it started serializing in 1997. Although anticipations have been high from its fans, the adaptation of One Piece into a live-action film was regarded as a mission impossible due to its copyright issues. The copyright deal sealed by the Chinese company can really be an excitement to One Piece fans all over the world, as the deal will grant the company the right to develop related live-action film, TV series and other derivatives.
The company revealed that the Japanese actor Masataka Kubota will star as Monkey D. Luffy in the film, who ranked top 1 in Who They’d Like To See Play Luffy from One Piece of the poll conducted recently by Goo Ranking. Meanwhile, it would be a surprise for the fans that the heroine Charlotte Purin will not be played by a Japanese nationality, but a Chinese girl named Xie Leilei, a member of the Chinese Idol Girl Group GNZ48. She is called as The Girl from One Piece by her fans due to her resemblance to Charlotte Purin in the manga.
Native New Yorker. Lover of all things pizza, chocolate, pets, and good friends. Karaoke hero. Left of center. Survivor. Fond supporter of cult, obscure and independent cinema - especially fond of Asian movies and global action cinema. Author of the bi-weekly Hit List. Founder and editor of Film Combat Syndicate. Still, very much, only human.
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