FMP licensed for Hollywood adaptation

[EricTheFred]

Mandalay Pictures Licenses Full Metal Panic! Film Rights

And the news article drops the name Zac Efron for the lead (presumably meaning the Souseke Sagara character.)

Honestly, I'm not sure how to feel about this idea. It's a favorite, and I can imagine all kinds of damage done to it.

The potential for horror comes close to the reality I've confronted from favorites of my youth such as Starship Troopers and Dune being re-engineered by Hollywood.

Well, we shall see.

[Radical Dreamer]

No.

Just no.

Go get your own ideas, Hollywood, and keep your High School Musical stars to yourself.

[Cognitive Gear]

For some reason I read this as FMA, to which I thought, "No! It would need to be a B movie." With FMP I could actually see a decent Hollywood movie coming from it.

[minakichan]

DUDE.

I don't care if Hollywood purportedly ruins everything.

I don't care if anime adaptions really haven't been doing that well.

I don't even care if it's Zac Efron, Disney Channel super-tweeny-bopper-star.

THIS.

WILL.

BE.

AWESOME.

ALSO THIS INCREASES THE CHANCES THAT EFRON WILL PLAY LIGHT IN THE LIVE ACTION DEATH NOTE *crosses fingers like MAD, just for the lulz*

[GeneD]

What is it with Zac Efron and live action anime characters? Anyway, I have't seen Full Metal Panic so I don't really know what to expect.

[LadyRushia]

Like all anime film adaptations, this could be really good or really bad. FMP is a little more realistic in that no one is really shooting giant balls of energy at each other. I need to finish watching FMP eventually, but I can see this being a Hollywood movie and not completely failing at life.

[MasterDias]

Unfortunately, I suspect they will probably overplay and Americanize the comedy, and downplay the action... That's the problem I see with this anyway.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Like all anime film adaptations, this could be really good or really bad. FMP is a little more realistic in that no one is really shooting giant balls of energy at each other. I need to finish watching FMP eventually, but I can see this being a Hollywood movie and not completely failing at life.

And piloting giant mechas is realistic? XD

[Etoh*the*Greato]

Just because the movie's been licensed doesn't mean it'll be made. I mean, otherwise where's the Halo movie? Or Metal Gear?

[ChristianKitsune]

DUDE.

I don't care if Hollywood purportedly ruins everything.

I don't care if anime adaptions really haven't been doing that well.

I don't even care if it's Zac Efron, Disney Channel super-tweeny-bopper-star.

THIS.

WILL.

BE.

AWESOME.

ALSO THIS INCREASES THE CHANCES THAT EFRON WILL PLAY LIGHT IN THE LIVE ACTION DEATH NOTE *crosses fingers like MAD, just for the lulz*

I just cant tell if you're being sarcastic or not XD.

I'm mixed on this... maybe Zac just got a bad rep because he started out as a Disney star? I've not seen him act since the first HSM and that was...4 years ago?

Maybe he's better now?

Can I see him as Sosuke?

No.

Just.
No.

[ShiroiHikari]

And piloting giant mechas is realistic? XD

More realistic than ki blasts in that it could actually be achieved someday. XD

All I have to say is: Please, Hollywood, for the love of all things holy, STOP DOING THINGS LIKE THIS.

[ChristianKitsune]

I'm kind of confused you guys...

when has hollywood totally Killed an anime movie? I haven't seen them make any "anime" live action.. (transformers doesn't count, it's American) and I thought that was pretty awesome.

We have yet to see how they treated DB... (that doesn't come out till Friday...)

Who knows? this could be a GOOD thing... O_o

[ShiroiHikari]

DB:Evolution was released overseas before it came out here. The reviews are pretty much universally bad.

Also some people will say that they ruined Speed Racer.

[ChristianKitsune]

DB:Evolution was released overseas before it came out here. The reviews are pretty much universally bad.

Also some people will say that they ruined Speed Racer.

Oooh... I see. XD.

I actually LOVED Speed Racer and i know a lot of people who do.

It's hard to recreate an anime series and squash it down into two hours... O_o

(I guess one could argue, Why even try that?) haha.

I dunno, I just try to keep a little open mind about things.

[LadyRushia]

I thought Transformers was originally Japanese? I don't know much about these things.

Anyway, if this goes through I might end up seeing it and I may even end up liking it. I dunno, I try not to write things off right away.

[Scarecrow]

I thought Speed Racer was awesome and the most underrated movie of 2008. It actually improved on the cartoon IMO... I did not care for the cartoon at all but the movie was one of my favorites from last year. I don't get why all the critics hated it. And most people I've shown it too really liked it as well wishing they didn't miss it in theatres.

DB on the other hand looks absolutely awful.

And nope, Transformers was American The show was made to sell the transformer toys. Just like the reason they made the He-Man show and others. Long commercials for the toys that came first.

[Etoh*the*Greato]

Absolutely terrible, and I will love every second of it.

[ShiroiHikari]

I thought Transformers was originally Japanese? I don't know much about these things.

Kinda sorta. The toys were originally Japanese, but Hasbro got the rights to produce some for the US and then made a whole big franchise out of it.

[Whitefang]

No.

Just no.

Go get your own ideas, Hollywood, and keep your High School Musical stars to yourself.

I'm quoting this for OVER 9000 truths.

Seriously, I haven't even seen much FMP!, but I do know that eventually, if they keep doing this, my childhood will be slowly corroded away, and all will be lost forever. In the words of Tycho Brahe, "We are being digested by an amoral universe."

[Roy Mustang]

Kinda sorta. The toys were originally Japanese, but Hasbro got the rights to produce some for the US and then made a whole big franchise out of it.

I kind of wish that I kept my Transformers in the box. I had some of the very first that came out and they only have the Japanese company Takara as the copyright without Hasbro name on them. The later ones that I got, had the Hasbro logo with the Takara name on it as well.

As for FMP being made into a movie. I just have to wait and see more info to really worry or be happy about it.


[font="Book Antiqua"][color="red"]Col. Roy Mustang
[/color][/font]

[ChristianKitsune]

I'm quoting this for OVER 9000 truths.

Seriously, I haven't even seen much FMP!, but I do know that eventually, if they keep doing this, my childhood will be slowly corroded away, and all will be lost forever. In the words of Tycho Brahe, "We are being digested by an amoral universe."

...doood its not THAT big of a deal is it? Its JUST a movie XD no one needs to treat this like life or death...

FMP is a good anime, but it's not like AMAZING or anything. the story line is okay, but overall it's kind of repetitive and fanservicey.

Hollywood could do a great job with it, or they could totally mess it up, all in all though? Who cares... life will still go on, and there are things that we should think about way more than just whether or not Hollywood makes an AMAZING adaptation of an anime or not. XD.

If you don't want to go see a movie then don't but don't say that it's "corroding" your childhood, that's a bit overdramatic dontcha think?

[KagayakiWashi]

The only thing that will make it worth watching is if Efron runs around in a Bonta-Kun outfit.
This movie might work, but I doubt it[won't be stupid].
Maybe this will end up like the live action Eva movie and get lost......FOREVER.

[Whitefang]

...doood its not THAT big of a deal is it? Its JUST a movie XD no one needs to treat this like life or death...

FMP is a good anime, but it's not like AMAZING or anything. the story line is okay, but overall it's kind of repetitive and fanservicey.

Hollywood could do a great job with it, or they could totally mess it up, all in all though? Who cares... life will still go on, and there are things that we should think about way more than just whether or not Hollywood makes an AMAZING adaptation of an anime or not. XD.

If you don't want to go see a movie then don't but don't say that it's "corroding" your childhood, that's a bit overdramatic dontcha think?

With all due respect Kitsune, I never alluded to anyone losing his or her life over the production of a film.

My apologies, but I was being melodramatic and expressing my wishes. I was simply attempting to express an opinion that Hollywood and her consorts have been slowly cashing in and checking out with many things for which I have fond memories. I'm mainly talking about things like Indiana Jones, but now they seem Hellbent on moving outside their own medium. Frankly, I tire of the culture of mashed potatoes movie making.

Think of this analogy:
Yes, I loved mashed potatoes as a kid, no I do not want mashed turnips to remind me of my first experience with mashed potatoes, just let me savour my mashed potatoes!

And I should add that you are correct, it is my choice to see or not see the movie, but if I am simply hoping to be pleasantly surprised, doesn't that say something about the quality of Hollywood's product, and my motivation to pursue further experiences with it?

[~darkelfgirl~]

No.

Just no.

Go get your own ideas, Hollywood, and keep your High School Musical stars to yourself.

I don't know about FMP, but Zac Efron again? What is wrong with these people? Can they not understand?

And Kitsune, take a look at the 17-again trailer xD. I don't really see a difference in the acting in HSM and that, IMO.

No offense, Zac.

My conspiracy theory is that someone does not like the amount of attention anime is getting in America LOL!!

"We must destroy anime once and for all!"

Wonder what anime is officially next on the chopping block? Teehee.

[minakichan]

When it comes to Disney channel tweenybopper actors, I have to say that I'm going to try to wait before I judge. Plenty of great actors started out as superficial fangirl fodder. At least Zac Efron hates High School Musical =_=;

Also, remember that the only things most people have seen of Efron have been the High School Musical series and other tween films. Me and Orson Welles got stellar reviews, and Ebert called it one of the greatest films of its genre.

As for whether I was serious about my previous comment, I... I love Hollywood movies, and I think it's narrow-minded to assume that ALL of them suck. Clearly Hollywood makes some great movies every year. Full Metal Panic obviously isn't going to snag any Oscars, but people find enjoyment out of a lot of movies that don't necessarily fit the bourgeois definition of quality. Popularity is based on relevance, not artistic learnedness.

As usual, I will save my judgment until AFTER the film comes out. In Dragonball's case, the fan fury was deserved, but this isn't always going to be a given.

The main thing that angers me is that this is already getting casted while Monster hasn't even gotten a script.

[ShiroiHikari]

Well, Zac Efron did play young Simon Tam in an episode of Firefly, so there is hope for him. XD

I'm not so much tired of Hollywood, just tired of all the remakes and adaptations. Surely there are some excellent screenplays out there just waiting to be made. I hate to think of all the ones that we'll never see because Hollywood is too interested in things like this. :\

[EricTheFred]

My main problem with most Comic Book / Manga / Cartoon / Anime adaptations is something that didn't really gel in my mind until I saw "Speed Racer". It is this:

They can't get over the fact that it started out a CB/M/C/A . Their aim becomes not to create the Live Action version, but to create a Cartoon using Live Action.

It can be done, and done well. "Popeye" (Robin Williams) comes to mind immediately. But it has been done. Doing it over and over is a crutch. Get back to doing the Live Action version.

Superman, going clear back to black and white serial days, never attempted to be the comic book. They did it as the serial / tv show, etc. , then later (in the version with Christopher Reeve) they did it as the movie. Various TV and Movie versions since have taken their queue from Superman The Movie, and have never tried to be a comic book.

If someone sits down and does Full Metal Panic from the original books as the movie, and does it well, then it could be great. The novels are considerably better than the anime or the manga. If they try to do an 'anime-as-live-action' thing... welll, Matrix and Kill Bill already did that. Don't bother. You'll mess it up.

/rant.

[Roy Mustang]

ANN

Actor Zac Efron (High School Musical, Hairspray, 17 Again) told MTV Splash Page that it is still "very early" to discuss Mandalay Pictures' rights to adapt Shoji Gatoh's Full Metal Panic! high school action comedy light novels into a live-action film. While he acknowledges he did have "a meeting on something" for the project, he noted that the project is "to the point where it's more than likely not going to happen." He did emphasize that he is "a huge comic book and manga fan" since he was 10 years old.

[color="Red"][font="Book Antiqua"]Col. Roy Mustang[/font][/color]

[LadyRushia]

He did emphasize that he has been "a huge comic book and manga fan" since he was 10 years old.

Fixed.

Wow.

And just like that, I'm smarter than I was five seconds ago.

It might be better to leave FMP alone, but if they decide to do it then it might be interesting.

[That Dude]

This one could easily go either way, I mean at least with the animes they were Americanized enough that if they do it right it could be a blockbuster. But on the flipside they could easily ruin it. And as far as Efron goes, well he at least fits the look of Sagara well enough.