Justin Chatwin and James Marsters to star in live-action DBZ

[Ambassador Vegeta]

I'm not sure how to even feel about this. I love love love James Marsters (I don't know anything about that kid) but as Piccolo...? I don't really see it. I think he'd make a better Vegeta really. I always thought of Spike as the Vegeta of "Buffy" with Angel being the Piccolo, not that I'm nominating The Naz for the movie role (Oh God no!).

But at least we now have someone in the cast who can act and has a fan-following big enough to get people in the theaters. Maybe the movie won't be such a flop after all, but I'm not sure whether that's good or bad.

[Castor Troy]

I guess I'll just accept the fate of the movie and watch it when it comes out.

It'll be hard to top the greatness of the live action chinese movie.

[BrollysKin]

I wish that hollywood would reach out more to fan communitys to get opinions on actors. Obviously this is an unreal statement, however I still wish it would happen.

[Super Sonic]

I wish that hollywood would reach out more to fan communitys to get opinions on actors. Obviously this is an unreal statement, however I still wish it would happen.

They don't do that with other tv shows turned movies. What made you think they would for this?

Also, you guys who heard James Marster's natural voice, what does it sound like? I've only heard his "Spike" voice.

[Rocketman]

I wish that hollywood would reach out more to fan communitys to get opinions on actors. Obviously this is an unreal statement, however I still wish it would happen.

They won't because fans, in general, are retards, unable to accept simple concepts like a 120-minute movie being unable to contain all the characters, plots, and character development of a 10,000-minute TV series.

[Sebastian (SB)]

.....I think I'm going to laugh....and cry.

Having Chow gives me hope, but at the same time I just know the movie is going to be more sci-fi then kung fu adventure. But hey, here's hoping it's good.

[Conan the SSJ]

Also, you guys who heard James Marster's natural voice, what does it sound like? I've only heard his "Spike" voice.

Well, he sounds absolutely nothing like Spike, I'll tell ya' that. Try and see if you can find Superman Doomsday clips of Lex, Smallville clips of Brainiac, or behind-the-scenes interviews of him from Buffy or Angel. He sounds like an ordinary American raised guy. Shout out to Chuquita; maybe check out a Season 5 box-set of Buffy, Angel, or Smallville; Marsters is in all of those and will allow ya' a fair chance to give the guy.

Considering I'm in the middle of Seasons 4 and 1 of Buffy and Angel, not to mention I've seen his work in the final season of Angel and in Smallville, I'm thinking Marsters can do something good with this role. And for those of you wondering how this movie can be rushed so fast, anyone else remember the third Pirates of the Caribbean movie? Kyle Hebert reported going to auditions for it as close to the premier as exactly a year ago, then a few months later it's out to theaters. Shows ya' what can be done in such a short amount of time.

[SatoSky]

Also, you guys who heard James Marster's natural voice, what does it sound like? I've only heard his "Spike" voice.

Marsters discussing his part in Superman: Doomsday.

[Onikage725]

Somehow, I get the feeling there's going to be more Buffy fans going to this movie than Dragonball fans.

Well the first clip I posted was to show that James Marster's isn't a stranger to physical training, fight scenes, and wire work. The Buffy/Angel vibe isn't the same as DB, but that's where things like "range" and "choreography" and "direction" come in.

If Ted "Theodore" Logan of the Wyld Stallyns could believably become "The One," then I think the guy who pulled off "William the Bloody" while showcasing a healthy level of physical ability (and believably simulating an intense lust for violence) can pull off Daimao.

With the second clip, I was trying to illustrate his acting chops. Regardless of anyone's possible dislike for BtVS, James Marsters is a well trained and talented actor. His first role was in The Tempest. He's put on productions of Macbeth. He's been nominated for the Joseph Jefferson Award. He's recieved critical acclaim for his work in Teechers, even before he played Spike.

Then there's his role as Spike. Love or hate the show, the fact is Spike was written to be a disposable villain, yet somehow wound up becoming such a favorite that he is made a central character. Combine his decent turn as Braniac and his wonderful performance as Lex Luthor (so good I stopped being upset that they hadn't gotten Clancy Brown back for the role) and one could almost say that playing Piccolo is an easy type-cast for him.

Some more clips for anyone either A-interested (i.e. fans) or B- curious (i.e. neutral non-fans). BTW, I said before he was like Piccolo (i.e. badass demon, grows fond of a member of the hero group, starts turning good. once pure evil, eventually gains a soul and goes through personal growth), but he's kinda Vegeta-ish too. Note, I'm just doing this in case ppl who didnt watch the series wanna know why the BtVS fans seem interested. Basically, if you were likely to go clip hunting, I'm taking the "hunt" out for you. I don't expect the casual reader to click every link, nor is it necessarily important to the discussion </disclaimer>

Clips from Spike's first appearence. Really only putting it cuz I think it's funny that at 6:25 he shares a line with Piccolo from the dub movie 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-Uk3bd0NyM

A decent vid showcasing Spike's worst (i.e best ) qualities -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcnwU5nzsx4

Spike post season 2- look just after 2 minutes for the scene where he tries to kill WIllow after getting the chip. Disturbing parallel of attempted rape (and of course, the ensuing "impotency").
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqcUTfnS ... re=related

This is a middleground Spike scene- still without a soul, but technically one of the good guys.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2o5Pcbszu9g&feature=user

The scene that leads to Spike pursuing his soul, directly following his attempted rape. I personally love the part almost 2 minutes in - "Everything used to be so clear. Slayer - Vampire. Vampire kills Slayer, sucks her dry... and picks his teeth with her bones."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFpZgoLL-VM

S7- Anya senses Spike's soul, which he hasn't divulged yet. He falls into the Piccolo-esque behaviour of acting like his former evil self to cover.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhdGZ6Ol ... re=related

Basically Spike finding the balance between having a soul and being a vampire-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cvjgpWiiF4

Follow-up to the last scene, where he is forced to work out his "inner demons"-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVawyB0I ... re=related

From the last season, a more Piccolo-ish moment. Pretend members of the Z Senshi punked out Gohan, this is how he would react-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihWtJ03j ... re=related

From last season of Angel, Angel and Spike bicker over who's the better good guy-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QE5t5S5s ... re=related


And for examples of his normal voice-
From Superman: Doomsday-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKkU9ilG6bo

Smallville, Dr. Fine, and a Terminator-ish Braniac scene-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3Xo14_bGZw

And against Clark-
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2211e ... shortfilms

James in interview on playing Braniac (note for comic aficionados that Smallville's inspiration for the character was partly based on Superman: The Animated Series, though they add a twist that Zod took over the system)-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWmmrdIs ... re=related

[russ869]

If Ted "Theodore" Logan of the Wild Stallions could believably become "The One," then I think the guy who pulled off "William the Bloody" while showcasing a healthy level of physical ability (and believably simulating an intense lust for violence) can pull off Daimao.

Actually, that would be "Wyld Stallyns." But seriously Keanu Reeves will always be Ted in my mind.

[omegacwa]

You can never really tell if an actor is going to do a character justice, until, well, they portray the character. I mean, lets face it, Hugh Jackman looks nothing like wolverine, he is way too tall, skinny and the hair just doesn't really work in real life, but they some how made it work. I mean, I still think they could have found someone who looked more the part of wolverine, but at least they got a decent actor who made us forget that wolverine is actually 5'3" and 300lbs.

[Onikage725]

Actually, that would be "Wyld Stallyns."

Nice catch. Fixed.

You can never really tell if an actor is going to do a character justice, until, well, they portray the character. I mean, lets face it, Hugh Jackman looks nothing like wolverine, he is way too tall, skinny and the hair just doesn't really work in real life, but they some how made it work. I mean, I still think they could have found someone who looked more the part of wolverine, but at least they got a decent actor who made us forget that wolverine is actually 5'3" and 300lbs.

Precisely. That's why it is called acting. If someone had told me a ways back that I would enjoy a Spiderman series that starred the voice of Lou from Cats and Dogs, Torrance from Bring It On, and Daniel from Freaks and Geeks - with villainy supplied by the villain from Speed 2: Cruise Control, live-action Snidely Whiplash, the comic relief mechanic from Wings, and Eric-fricken-Forman - I probably would have asked you to pass the blunt.

[Super Sonic]

Nice points you guys made. Though I still think Johnny Yong Bosch would've been perfect for Goku or Yamcha.

[veshira]

Veshira's Reaction Replay:

According to Hollywood Reporter (and also being posted on sites like comingsoon.net and movieweb.com), Justin Chatwin (known for the most recent War Of The Worlds), and James Marsters (most well known as "Spike" in the Buffy & Angel universe) have apparently been picked up, and the story is reporting a 15 August 2008 "worldwide release date" with James Wong indeed at the helm.

WOO HOO!

Marsters is playing the villainous Piccolo.

... WTF? Nooo!!! Spike should be Vegeta! VEGETA!! *sob*

[Onikage725]

Veshira's Reaction Replay:


... WTF? Nooo!!! Spike should be Vegeta! VEGETA!! *sob*

Well he's not gonna be playing Spike :p
And he is WAY too tall for Vegeta. Though it worked for Wolverine, so who knows.

[Contra Deus]

Veshira's Reaction Replay:


... WTF? Nooo!!! Spike should be Vegeta! VEGETA!! *sob*

Well he's not gonna be playing Spike :p
And he is WAY too tall for Vegeta. Though it worked for Wolverine, so who knows.

Yeah, and he's way too short (and thin) for Piccolo, as well. Don't get me wrong, it'll probably be interesting, but the idea that they'd cast James Marsters as Piccolo just completely blindsided me.

[Onikage725]

Yeah, and he's way too short (and thin) for Piccolo, as well. Don't get me wrong, it'll probably be interesting, but the idea that they'd cast James Marsters as Piccolo just completely blindsided me.

Come to think of it, short or tall doesn't matter really. Spike looks pretty tall half the time in Buffy because of how they film him

And in Lord of the Rings, Gimli was played by an actor who is over 6 feet tall.

[Calcaneus]

This is really shaping up to be a great movie, surely it will take its place along with DOA and the upcoming Tekken movie as "best movie ever" contenders.

Anyways, remember all those websites that would put up their desired cast if there ever was a Dragonball movie? I fear by the end of this, I'll actually prefer those lists.

I'll still watch this movie, twice if I have to.

[Onikage725]

This is really shaping up to be a great movie, surely it will take its place along with DOA and the upcoming Tekken movie as "best movie ever" contenders.

Anyways, remember all those websites that would put up their desired cast if there ever was a Dragonball movie? I fear by the end of this, I'll actually prefer those lists.

I'll still watch this movie, twice if I have to.

What, like this?
Goku-Robin Shou or Jackie Chan
Vegeta-Jet li
Krillin-Verne Troyer or Danny Devito
Android 18-Cameron Diaz
Cell-The Rock
Master Roshi-Danna Carvy
Piccolo-Wesley Snipes or Vin Diesel
Trunks-Leonardo Dicaprio
Chi Chi-Elizabeth Hurley
Gohan-Keanu Reeves

Those were real winners.

I especially love how Keanu is the son of Robin (4 yrs older) and Elizabeth (1 yr younger). Or leo Dicaprio as Jet Li's kid. And if Jackie Chan played anyone in this, it should be Muten goddamnit!

[SonEric84]

This is really shaping up to be a great movie, surely it will take its place along with DOA and the upcoming Tekken movie as "best movie ever" contenders.

Anyways, remember all those websites that would put up their desired cast if there ever was a Dragonball movie? I fear by the end of this, I'll actually prefer those lists.

I'll still watch this movie, twice if I have to.

What, like this?
Goku-Robin Shou or Jackie Chan
Vegeta-Jet li
Krillin-Verne Troyer or Danny Devito
Android 18-Cameron Diaz
Cell-The Rock
Master Roshi-Danna Carvy
Piccolo-Wesley Snipes or Vin Diesel
Trunks-Leonardo Dicaprio
Chi Chi-Elizabeth Hurley
Gohan-Keanu Reeves

Those were real winners.

I especially love how Keanu is the son of Robin (4 yrs older) and Elizabeth (1 yr younger). Or leo Dicaprio as Jet Li's kid. And if Jackie Chan played anyone in this, it should be Muten goddamnit!

Wasn't that list in a Pojo's magazine? Man those are terrible...