Viz/UTA developing live-action Dragonball series?

[jpranevich]

Probably not, but news is out today that they have partnered with "UTA" to build live-action shows based on their manga properties:

http://deadline.com/2016/03/viz-media-a ... 201725047/

“The UTA partnership represents an important new direction for VIZ Media and our colleagues in Japan,” says Brad Woods, Chief Marketing Officer of VIZ Media. “Bringing the rich stories of manga and anime to life in new ways is an exciting opportunity with tremendous potential. UTA is an innovator that shares our vision, and their proven track record and strong relationships throughout the domestic and international entertainment sectors will be important factors as we move forward.”

Details are short, but a few articles out there on the interwebs suggest Dragonball would be a target property, although I doubt Toei would ever agree to such a thing and I can't imagine they sold live-action rights to Viz for that property.

Probably nothing, but up here for discussion!

[Dragon Ball Ireland]

VIZ Media, a publisher, distributor and licensor of Japanese manga and anime properties in North America, is teaming with UTA to develop live-action programming based on titles from VIZ Media’s catalog that include the uber popular Dragon Ball Z, Sail0r Moon, and Pokémon series franchises.

This is the only time Dragon Ball is mentioned in the article, even then it's not really saying anything. The statement is just naming some of VIZ's titles, that amounts to nothing more than speculation about what properties could be developed, because none are actually confirmed.

I'm not saying you're wrong, as you have acknowledged it's unlikely, I'm just adding to the discussion and reaffirming your own doubt.

[Chuquita]

Given Toriyama's opinion on how DBE went, and the fact that FOX still possibly has a license for anything live action DB and so would have to give permission or get a cut or something; I don't think DB is gonna be one of those titles.

[doomydoomydoom]

Who knows. I'd say it's highly unlikely after the movie that dare not speak its name, something to do with Charles Darwin in the title I think. I doubt Toriyama or anybody else involved would approve anything like that ever again. Seriously, even I'm shocked at how badly he took it, and of course we have it to thank for basically all of the franchise's new installments. It would take a lot of convincing and pleading and proof of concepts spread over many years to convince The Bird that Americans should try live action DB again.

That said, I wonder what Viz is planning.

[Kuririn Fan]

I would fucking kill myself if that happens.

[Hellspawn28]

DBE is still pretty recent. I feel like they should wait another 5-10 years to do another live action Dragon Ball because it been a long enough time that people would forget about DBE.

[Bullza]

People probably already forgot about it. They don't need to wait, Spider-man 3 wasn't all that well liked and it was rebooted after only 5 years, The Amazing Spider-man 2 was the same and that's getting rebooted after 3 years

It could work but not as a cheap TV series. It just needs to be treated as well as they treat the superhero movies and not like it was some cheap video game adaptation.

[Hellspawn28]

People probably already forgot about it. They don't need to wait, Spider-man 3 wasn't all that well liked and it was rebooted after only 5 years, The Amazing Spider-man 2 was the same and that's getting rebooted after 3 years

Spider-Man is different since Spider-Man is a bigger brand name compare to Dragon Ball. Spider-Man will always make money since it can sell well with tickets and toys even with bad reviews. I think doing another live action Dragon Ball in 5-10 years from now will do better since most people have forgotten about it. If you look at Godzilla since the last American film from over a year ago came out 16 years after the 1998 American Godzilla film. It end up doing did pretty well in 2014. I think they do another live action Dragon Ball right now, people will be like "Why? Didn't they learn from the last time?!" and "We got a Dragon Ball live action movie from a few years ago and failed. Why do it again?".

[Bullza]

I dunno I saw a lot of people talking about the old Godzilla even when the new one was showing up so I think that kind of talk would be inevitable.

I think as long as they made it clear from the start this was going to be completely different then it shouldn't be a problem. Most people today are familiar with what reboots are too so wouldn't automatically think it'd turn out the same.

If Fox came out with an announcement that they were going to be making a new Dragon Ball Z movie that was a complete reboot with Del Toro directing and it targeting a summer release then it'd be off to the right start.

The franchise has made a big comeback at the moment and it might get bigger when and if DB Super ends up getting dubbed and is put on a popular channel at a good time.

They didn't strike when the iron was hot last time and DBE came out when the popularity had faded. It's best not to make the same mistake again.

[Pokewhiz7]

Honestly, I think a live-action Dragon Ball series could only work if it severely toned down Toriyama's brand of humor, and re-designed a lot of the characters and villains. Otherwise it would just look too silly to take seriously, but then it would lose all of the charm of the original series, so I don't think such a thing is possible.

[Hellspawn28]

I can up for another live action DB if it can handle adapting the manga and anime right. Just give us good actors, good producers and good director. I still think Hugh Jackman and Karl Urban would make a good Goku.

[Vijay]

I can up for another live action DB if it can handle adapting the manga and anime right. Just give us good actors, good producers and good director. I still think Hugh Jackman and Karl Urban would make a good Goku.

Isnt Hugh Jackman awfully similar to Justin Chatwin in terms of looks? I know the former than actually act & underplay his roles well, but more typically suited for silent & brooding badass character. Something dats "unlike" Goku. Maybe Veggie or Pikkoro

As for director+producer combo, I always felt Stephen Chow or Sam Raimi would be apt choices. They have crystal clear & somewhat tongue-in-cheeck sense of humor which would work very well with masses.

Cameron or Nolan would attempt to to stage everything so artistically, right from hero/villain intro till their climatic showdown which while would make good stand-alone film, hardly the "soul" of DragonBall

Just think what Michael Bay would do to a DragonBall film? Fireworks flying all-over the place, Goku gets turned into most annoying, obnoxious piece of s*** uttering double-entrende dialogues & chicks exposing the cleavage/butt popping every once in a while for no good reason...gosh...

[Hellspawn28]

Hugh Jackman was the popular actor choice that fans wanted back in the early-mid 2000's. Unlike Chatwin, he can act and he has done good roles outside of Wolverine. With him going to retire as Wolverine, I could see him finding another franchise to work with.