Full Metal Panic! Live Action: Possible?

Jack O'Neill

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    Mandalay nabs rights to 'Full Metal Panic' [Hollywood Reporter]

    Mandalay nabs rights to 'Full Metal Panic'
    Japanese manga series blends action, comedy
    By Steven Zeitchik
    April 6, 2009, 10:15 PM ET

    Mandalay Pictures has acquired theatrical rights to and will develop a big-screen version of "Full Metal Panic," a Japanese manga series that blends action, comedy and high school romance.

    The property derives from writer Shoji Gatoh's series about a teenage anti-terrorist commando named Sousuke Sagara who is given the mission to protect a high-school girl with mystical powers.

    "Panic," which is set in a world almost exclusively without adults, is known for mixing visceral action with wry comedy.

    Zac Efron's name has surfaced in connection with "Panic," with the actor holding a conversation on the project. Efron, already a heartthrob among the teen audiences to whom the project could appeal, is also honing the action-adventure side of his career with a potential attachment to the Warner Bros. adventure "Jonny Quest."

    He's next up in "17 Again," the upcoming New Line movie about an adult who goes back to high-school to rewrite his life.

    Mandalay, which counts the environmental drama "Peaceable Kingdom" among its projects, has a first-look deal at Universal but has not yet set up "Panic" at a studio.

    Born as a serialized novel from Gatoh and the illustrator Shiki Douji, "Panic" was developed in the early 2000's as a Japanese anime by the Asian firm Kyoto Animation and eventually also yielded a spinoff series.

    An English-language version was produced and released in the U.S. on home video by ADV Films.
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    Mandalay Pictures Licences Full Metal Panic! Film Rights [Anime News Network]

    Mandalay Pictures Licenses Full Metal Panic! Film Rights
    posted on 2009-04-07 02:10 EDT
    Zac Efron in talks to star in film of Shoji Gatoh's high school action comedy

    The Mandalay Pictures production studio has licensed the film rights to Shoji Gatoh's Full Metal Panic! high school action comedy light novels. The story centers around a brusque young sergeant named Sousuke Sagara who must protect an assertive high school girl named Chidori Kaname by masquerading (somewhat unsuccessfully) as a high school student himself. Actor Zac Efron (High School Musical, Hairspray, 17 Again) is reportedly discussing the project.

    Shikidouji illustrated the original novels, and Retsu Tateo adapted them into manga form (pictured at right). Four television anime series, several spinoff manga, and a video special have since released. ADV Manga released both the first manga series and the Full Metal Panic: Overload! manga spinoff in North America. ADV Films and Funimation have split the North American DVD releases of the different anime series between the two of them.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter
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    Hollywood Grabs Ninja Scroll & Full Metal Panic [Sankaku Complex (WARNING: Some site contents possibly NSFW)]

    Additionally, news that Mandalay Pictures has successfully acquired the rights to a live action adaptation of the Full Metal Panic! series also surfaced.

    In what could be the the news that makes or breaks the movie, actor Zac Effron is apparently set to play Japanese born (but Afghan raised) lead Sousuke Sagara.

    It is not clear whether the character will be changed to fit the casting of a non-Japanese actor, but this seems far from improbable

    It was also rumored that he will be joined by veteran actor Sean Connery, playing Captain Sergei Kalinin.
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    It's still too early to tell whether such a project will have a chance at success, but I'm not sure whether having Sean Connery will adequately compensate for having Zac Efron. Is there really a dearth of young actors out there, and is it so severe as to necessitate having to cast Mr. Efron in just about anything and everything?

    Discuss, assuming you actually bother reading.
     
    You gotta be kidding me. Why the hell is he taking all the live-action movies? o_o Didn't we hear about his acting debut in Death Note the live action movie also? D: ZAC WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS. GO BACK TO DISNEY DAMMIT. ;_;
     
    I..

    I don't know whether I wanna cry, or freak out..

    Or maybe I'll just do both.

    Pardon me.. ; ;

    -saftely assumes that part of her soul just died-
     
    I'll just keep telling myself that if I don't watch it, it can't hurt me. Maybe it'll come true.

    Also, any person that thinks Zach Efron is a "heartthrob" should be declared either legally insane or an enemy to humanity. I can't decide which. I suggest a petition to stop his reign of terror. Someone get going on that.
     
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    ~doesn't read all of it like the lazy person he is~

    ...Hopefully it won't be too painful... Maybe God loves me enough to not let it fail... Please God? You owe me for those almost 20 years of worship!
     
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    I heard the rumors of Zac possibly in Death Note. *shudders at the thought of him starring as Light*

    The truth, don't know much about Full Metal Panic, but the thing is it seems anything that's going to be related to high school he's going to be in it (example 17 Again).

    Also, what gets to me more is many anime/manga series are starting to go live action and many American actors are staring in Asian roles, like Dragonball Evolution. That kind of casting decision sometimes can make or break a project.
     
    Honestly, I'd much rather see them make Death Note with Effron, as opposed to him being Full Metal Panic. D:

    That's just.. cruel and wrong.
     
    Zac Efron: Not 'Likely' to Be in Full Metal Panic! Project [Anime News Network]

    Zac Efron: Not 'Likely' to Be in Full Metal Panic! Project
    posted on 2009-04-15 12:12 EDT
    High School Musical star, manga fan says it is very early to discuss film plans

    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.

    The Hollywood Reporter newspaper revealed Mandalay's acquisition of the live-action film rights last week. The story centers around a brusque young sergeant named Sousuke Sagara who must protect an assertive high school girl named Chidori Kaname by masquerading (somewhat unsuccessfully) as a high school student himself. Shikidouji illustrated the original novels that Tokyopop published. ADV Manga released both the first manga adaptation from Retsu Tateo and Full Metal Panic: Overload! manga spinoff from Tomohiro Nagai in North America. ADV Films and Funimation have split the North American DVD releases of the three television anime series between the two of them.
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    Interpret it as you will, provided you actually read it. Personally, the less likely Zac Efron will be in it, the better the final product might turn out to be.
     
    Oh I really hope that is true that he isn't going to be in the live action movie of Full Metal Panic. Maybe it won't be so bad after all if he isn't it. But still what is with everyone taking anime and making them live action?! I wish they will leave them alone. Because for the most part they probably ended up flopping and don't do well in the box office. But again if they do it right, it can be a hit.
     
    Just got done watching FMP? Fumoffu. :D

    BTW, F U Ron does not equal Sagara. F U Ron = DIE! *stabs F U Ron voodoo doll*

    .....and yes, his name is F U Ron (and his buddie Cordon Bleu)
     
    I was kinda' hoping for Zac to be in any FMP Live movie. He just seems a lot like Souske.
     
    Zac does look a lot like Sagara. Also, there's not going to be any dancing so maybe we may get to see his more "manly" side.

    But I would much rather see him in Death Note.
     
    Setsuko said:
    Oh I really hope that is true that he isn't going to be in the live action movie of Full Metal Panic. Maybe it won't be so bad after all if he isn't it. But still what is with everyone taking anime and making them live action?! I wish they will leave them alone. Because for the most part they probably ended up flopping and don't do well in the box office. But again if they do it right, it can be a hit.
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    Because that's where all the big money is these days. Comics are almost an untapped source of money in the film industry these days. Chances are that we're going to keep seeing these comics and anime series turned into live action flicks.

    AND DEAR GOD, I will have to kill someone if Zac Efron actually takes part in this film, god damnit.
     
    never really watched the show, but isnt it more character driven than mech fights...so its do-able...but should it?
     
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