Making a Dragon Ball Z Film Franchise Work

[Bullza]

You could get some epic battles in that era. Even if people can't fly yet, they can leap 30 metres into the air, move at the speed of sound, throw punches that crack mountains and fire spectacular ki blasts. Goku fighting Yamcha, Goku fighting Tao Pai Pai and battles with General Blue who uses telekinesis could all feel epic and action-packed if this stuff was used properly.

Those battles would make for fun battles that take place during the movie but would be pretty unsatisfying for a final climactic battle. Most of the fans who would go see the movie wouldn't even know who Tao and General Blue were. They weren't really that memorable as characters or were even that great a fight scene.

I'd hardly even call his confrontation with Blue a fight scene. The Red Ribbon army wouldn't make for a good film and it wouldn't have what people would expect from a Dragon Ball.

The villains are named Commander Red, Colonol Silver, General Blue, Captain Yellow, it sounds like something from Captain Scarlet. In other movies you'd have villains who wanna take over or destroy the Earth or rule the universe but here you'd have the midget from Game of Thrones commanding a huge army with the goal of getting a wish to be tall? It'd be stupid as a movie.

What if Dr Gero was the main villain, pulling the strings of the Red Ribbon Army?

They'd need Gero if they were to ever get as far as Cell but they could easily rework Gero's origin so he wasn't tied to the RRA. Make him a genius with mental issues he develops an obsession and jealousy with Goku over his power and ability to fly. So if he isn't able to do such a thing he'll create a being that will be even better, perfect, so Cell is created.

Though instead of Cell wanting to kill Goku because he was programmed to he decides to do it of his own free will to prove himself, like Goku but without the good intention.

[Bullza]

Well look at this way, Dragonball, the source material, sold 230 million copies. That's half the amount that the HP books sold, and it's after all the movie hype.

Harry Potter sold 450 million books around the world divided into 7 books. Dragon Ball has sold 230 million volumes across 42 books and 150 million of that is from Japan alone.

If you divided that up (which you cant) then 64 million people own all 7 Harry Potter books compared to 5 million people who own all of Dragon Ball.

I'm not sure if Nolan can resist keeping it Americanized though.

Nolan is a great director but would a awful choice for Dragon Ball. DBZ is a light, funny, colourful, spectacle of a show the complete opposite of what Nolan makes, he'd take the fun out of it.

It needs someone like Del Toro to make it because he loves anime, made Pacific Rim, has made adaptations before (Hellboy) and writes the Hobbit films which are accurate to the source material.

Harry Potter went for 8 films because the novels had almost that many parts.

And it was popular enough to get it that far. There were 7 Narnia books but failed at the second movie and stopped after the third.

A Series of Unfortunate Events has several books, never got past one movie. Same with Eragon. Percy Jackson probably won't get anymore films despite there being several books. The Da Vinci Code series has 4 books? Second film failed, probably won't be anymore.

And honestly with Batman, I think it is very hard to tell if TDK would have been as huge a success as it was if it wasn't for the Ledger hype. BB did not do nearly as good as it did, BB wasn't as good as TDK but I still thought it was a very enjoyable movie/origin story.

TDK may not have made as much as it did but would have still made an obscene amount. BB did decently because Batman & Robin put most people off him. BB went on to have incredibly strong DVD sales because it was great, then the second movie had Joker whose just as popular as Batman and it ended up being a phenomenonal movie. There was a vast amount of hype even before Ledger died.

But I think the films should be carried out in the same similar fashion, as I guess you can call the deathly hallows effect, how certain films split up the final part to their franchise like Twilight and Hunger Games and even Hobbit actually.

It's just done out of greed, they can make 2-3x as much money by doing that. The Hobbit wasn't so good because they stretched it out too much.

Dragon Ball doesn't have as much plot as those books it couldn't manage having arcs split in two movies. They mostly consist of fight scenes that last forever. In a movie they'd cut out most of the fights and the main fights would last 10-15 minutes rather than 20 episodes worth.

The Freeza saga would be split up into two sagas, Namek and Freeza, with Namek essentially being the buildup to the Freeza. Like I said with my OP, Namek would be basically arriving on Namek to Freeza finding Vegeta, Gohan and Krillin.

There'd be no need for it to be split as it could easily be done in one film. Remove the Ginyu Force except for Ginyu. Just have Goku arrive on Namek with Krillin and Bulma. Cut out a bunch of fights with Frieza, in the anime the whole Frieza fight lasted 30 episodes which could be done in 30 minutes in a movie.

Look, I want the whole story told as much as possible.

That's just unrealistic though. There's no need for the Androids to make up a whole movie, in the end they were just a stepping stone to get to Cell. #20 and #19 didn't pan out so they introduced #16, #17 and #18 they didn't pan out, spent most of the arc in a car and didn't even meet Goku.

Cell being the one Trunks warns them about would allow them to just jump straight into the important stuff.

[Hellspawn28]

Nolan would be a bad choice for DBZ since his style would never work. For Goku, they need someone who can act. If they get someone who is not asian then I'm okay with it as long if the actor can act. Hugh Jackman was rumored as Goku for years before DBE and I still won't mind him as Goku.

[Vegeta12]

I doubt they will attempt another live action film.

[tx3]

i tell you how it should be done


look at tim & struppie the film real acters with cgi over them...only way to do a Manga somehow close to movie material
look also at final fantasy VII AC

also the film has to start with Dragonball storyline ...cause it explains what the f is going on
the problematic is to tell it in 90 min ...u cant go by the manga ..u have to do it in a proper way ..also cut away a lot of things
focus not on fighting..more storytelling

we move on to DBZ ...focus fighting

i thinking about 3 movies ....1. DB goku adventure and of the movie beginn of DBZ somehow bring Fight against Piccolo, Vegeta
and ends with the travel to Namek
2. Frezza saga and ends with the fight of Cell
3.Cell and Boo.


u clearly see it's to much content ..no studio would make 5 movies
i am thinking about making DB as TV show maybe
and then bring DBZ to the movie Theater

it's hard

[Fizzer]

You could get some epic battles in that era. Even if people can't fly yet, they can leap 30 metres into the air, move at the speed of sound, throw punches that crack mountains and fire spectacular ki blasts. Goku fighting Yamcha, Goku fighting Tao Pai Pai and battles with General Blue who uses telekinesis could all feel epic and action-packed if this stuff was used properly.

Those battles would make for fun battles that take place during the movie but would be pretty unsatisfying for a final climactic battle. Most of the fans who would go see the movie wouldn't even know who Tao and General Blue were. They weren't really that memorable as characters or were even that great a fight scene.

I'd hardly even call his confrontation with Blue a fight scene. The Red Ribbon army wouldn't make for a good film and it wouldn't have what people would expect from a Dragon Ball.

The villains are named Commander Red, Colonol Silver, General Blue, Captain Yellow, it sounds like something from Captain Scarlet. In other movies you'd have villains who wanna take over or destroy the Earth or rule the universe but here you'd have the midget from Game of Thrones commanding a huge army with the goal of getting a wish to be tall? It'd be stupid as a movie.

Of course the story wouldn't be followed exactly, although there's really no problem with a well-rounded movie that combines adventure, action and comedy. In the original, there isn't much of a fight with blue, but there could be. That and the fight with Tao could be fairly Z-like if choreographed that way. Hell, Red could be scrapped altogether and replaced with Black or Gero.

What if Dr Gero was the main villain, pulling the strings of the Red Ribbon Army?

They'd need Gero if they were to ever get as far as Cell but they could easily rework Gero's origin so he wasn't tied to the RRA. Make him a genius with mental issues he develops an obsession and jealousy with Goku over his power and ability to fly. So if he isn't able to do such a thing he'll create a being that will be even better, perfect, so Cell is created.

Though instead of Cell wanting to kill Goku because he was programmed to he decides to do it of his own free will to prove himself, like Goku but without the good intention.

I was thinking less of foreshadowing and more about the true big bad being a serious villain who the fans are familiar with. He could send a new android to battle Goku at the end, if Black in a giant mecha isn't enough. The idea was, since these a films, to be a bit more story oriented though.

[i'mfuckingevil]

And I don't quite see why the actors have to be Asian. Or why Piccolo needs to be 7'5". There isn't a whole lot of people that are 7'5", especially ones that are good actors AND know martial arts so who would play him? Shaq? Choi Hong-man? both would need lifts in their shoes, not sure if Choi Hong-man speaks English, and Shaq has been nominated for worst actor for one or two movies, and Piccolo is supposed to be fast and neither of them seem to be that. Besides a lot of times he appears to be much shorter (like 6'4"-6'9"ish). So I think somebody that is about 9 inches taller than Goku's actor would be fine and a lot easier to find somebody (as long as you keep Goku under 6ft). Or just use movie magic and the actor could be shorter than Goku but made to look taller.

I agree now that Piccolo's actor doesn't have to be 7'5" (I've settled that Hritik Roshan would be my Piccolo choice) but the main cast does have to be Asian.

Goku should be Asian for the very same reason Superman is white; they're both aliens, but DB's source material is Japanese and DC's source material is American. Also Bullza, I don't care if Asian actors have no appeal outside Asia; if white and black actors can make lead blockbuster films, it's time Hollywood gave other races that chance and if they don't, it's Hollywood being racist and in my opinion, that's what DBEvolution and the Last Airbender were.

[Hellspawn28]

t needs someone like Del Toro to make it because he loves anime, made Pacific Rim, has made adaptations before (Hellboy) and writes the Hobbit films which are accurate to the source material.

This! I've been saying Del Toro should do a DB movie for years.

[WittyUsername]

And I don't quite see why the actors have to be Asian. Or why Piccolo needs to be 7'5". There isn't a whole lot of people that are 7'5", especially ones that are good actors AND know martial arts so who would play him? Shaq? Choi Hong-man? both would need lifts in their shoes, not sure if Choi Hong-man speaks English, and Shaq has been nominated for worst actor for one or two movies, and Piccolo is supposed to be fast and neither of them seem to be that. Besides a lot of times he appears to be much shorter (like 6'4"-6'9"ish). So I think somebody that is about 9 inches taller than Goku's actor would be fine and a lot easier to find somebody (as long as you keep Goku under 6ft). Or just use movie magic and the actor could be shorter than Goku but made to look taller.

I agree now that Piccolo's actor doesn't have to be 7'5" (I've settled that Hritik Roshan would be my Piccolo choice) but the main cast does have to be Asian.

Goku should be Asian for the very same reason Superman is white; they're both aliens, but DB's source material is Japanese and DC's source material is American. Also Bullza, I don't care if Asian actors have no appeal outside Asia; if white and black actors can make lead blockbuster films, it's time Hollywood gave other races that chance and if they don't, it's Hollywood being racist and in my opinion, that's what DBEvolution and the Last Airbender were.

Ironically, DBE and The Last Airbender were directed by an Asian and Indian man respectively.

[i'mfuckingevil]

And I don't quite see why the actors have to be Asian. Or why Piccolo needs to be 7'5". There isn't a whole lot of people that are 7'5", especially ones that are good actors AND know martial arts so who would play him? Shaq? Choi Hong-man? both would need lifts in their shoes, not sure if Choi Hong-man speaks English, and Shaq has been nominated for worst actor for one or two movies, and Piccolo is supposed to be fast and neither of them seem to be that. Besides a lot of times he appears to be much shorter (like 6'4"-6'9"ish). So I think somebody that is about 9 inches taller than Goku's actor would be fine and a lot easier to find somebody (as long as you keep Goku under 6ft). Or just use movie magic and the actor could be shorter than Goku but made to look taller.

I agree now that Piccolo's actor doesn't have to be 7'5" (I've settled that Hritik Roshan would be my Piccolo choice) but the main cast does have to be Asian.

Goku should be Asian for the very same reason Superman is white; they're both aliens, but DB's source material is Japanese and DC's source material is American. Also Bullza, I don't care if Asian actors have no appeal outside Asia; if white and black actors can make lead blockbuster films, it's time Hollywood gave other races that chance and if they don't, it's Hollywood being racist and in my opinion, that's what DBEvolution and the Last Airbender were.

Ironically, DBE and The Last Airbender were directed by an Asian and Indian man respectively.

Yes, that is actually very ironic. What isn't ironic though is that the brown director has a notorious reputation for making bad movies, with a few exceptions. It seems this could have been another chance to redeem himself but he took the easy route of whitewashing the Last Airbender and fucked it up.

[Bullza]

Also Bullza, I don't care if Asian actors have no appeal outside Asia; if white and black actors can make lead blockbuster films, it's time Hollywood gave other races that chance and if they don't, it's Hollywood being racist and in my opinion, that's what DBEvolution and the Last Airbender were.

It's not Hollywood's fault. They don't give Asian actors lead roles in big films because they won't make anywhere near as much money as if they were to cast a white actor. In modern times there's only been two bankable Asian stars and that was Jet Li and Jackie Chan and they aren't bankable anymore.

Unless it's Will Smith they'll hardly even cast a black actor in a lead role for a big movie. If some studio were paying for a $150 million film they wouldn't want to take any risks and would just get a white actor.

In Asia they'd always cast an Asian actor in a lead role for a big blockbuster for the same reason.

And as for Piccolo their best bet would be just to have him be completely CGI rather than just casting some actor just because he's tall and can fight but can't act worth a shit.

[WittyUsername]

Also Bullza, I don't care if Asian actors have no appeal outside Asia; if white and black actors can make lead blockbuster films, it's time Hollywood gave other races that chance and if they don't, it's Hollywood being racist and in my opinion, that's what DBEvolution and the Last Airbender were.

It's not Hollywood's fault. They don't give Asian actors lead roles in big films because they won't make anywhere near as much money as if they were to cast a white actor. In modern times there's only been two bankable Asian stars and that was Jet Li and Jackie Chan and they aren't bankable anymore.

Unless it's Will Smith they'll hardly even cast a black actor in a lead role for a big movie. If some studio were paying for a $150 million film they wouldn't want to take any risks and would just get a white actor.

In Asia they'd always cast an Asian actor in a lead role for a big blockbuster for the same reason.

And as for Piccolo their best bet would be just to have him be completely CGI rather than just casting some actor just because he's tall and can fight but can't act worth a shit.

The general public is really that prejudice towards non Caucasians?

[dario03]

I've never seen The Last Airbender (since I assumed it would annoy me like DBE) but from the trailers I always thought the kid playing Aang (Noah Ringer) looked a lot like him. Sokka and Katara I could see since the skin tone is very different. And the rest of the cast wasn't whitewashed.

[Rocketman]

The general public is really that prejudice towards non Caucasians?

No, it's more of a Catch-22 thing.

Hollywood doesn't wanna take a risk on minority leads because they aren't big stars.
There aren't many minority big stars because Hollywood doesn't want to take a risk.

[Bullza]

The general public is really that prejudice towards non Caucasians?

People take more to their own kind.

Look at the highest grossing films, you have to go down 42nd to find a film with a black lead, Indepence Day and Will Smith didn't have the most screen time in that film. You have to go down to 77th with Hancock to get that.

If you wanted to find the highest grossing film with a black lead who isn't Will Smith it'd be Django Unchained in 164th. An asian lead? Slumdog Millionaire in 198th. An east asian lead? Rush Hour 2 all the way down in 246th.

Ride Along just came out, big movie in January do you know what percentage of white people saw that film? 12% that's all. The movie will make next to nothing outside of America because the movie has black leads.

So yeah they'd cast a white Goku because it's the mainstream option.

[BlackCatScott]

I've always thought it could work if done right. I still have a bit of hope that some day it will be done right on the big screen. (Pretty sure I wouldn't want FOX anywhere near it - and they have the rights at the moment so it wouldn't be for a while!) - Dragonball Evolution was a joke.

Thinking of a DBZ live action movie is something I've been doing more and more since watching Man of Steel. I thought that movie was spectacular, and if you look at the action scenes in that film it's pretty much exactly what I had hoped to see in a DBZ film. If I'm not mistaken, I think Zack Snyder even said he got some of his ideas for the action scenes from anime.

I also picture a DBZ live action film not having much comedy for some reason! But PLENTY of epic fights.

[WittyUsername]

The general public is really that prejudice towards non Caucasians?

People take more to their own kind.

Look at the highest grossing films, you have to go down 42nd to find a film with a black lead, Indepence Day and Will Smith didn't have the most screen time in that film. You have to go down to 77th with Hancock to get that.

If you wanted to find the highest grossing film with a black lead who isn't Will Smith it'd be Django Unchained in 164th. An asian lead? Slumdog Millionaire in 198th. An east asian lead? Rush Hour 2 all the way down in 246th.

Ride Along just came out, big movie in January do you know what percentage of white people saw that film? 12% that's all. The movie will make next to nothing outside of America because the movie has black leads.

So yeah they'd cast a white Goku because it's the mainstream option.

Wow, that's actually pretty sad.

[dbboxkaifan]

If they were to cast an Asian or half-Asian than a non-Asian actor (white) then Jon Foo (SF Legacy / Tekken 2010) or Ian Anthony Dale (MK Legacy / MK Rebirth) would be ideal to pull it off as Goku. As for a white non-Asian actor I was thinking of Keanu Reeves but he's also partially Asian too.

They're both great actors and if given the chance we'd have a precise live action Dragon Ball Z film with these guys in it.

Edit: Ah yes, Jensen Ackles (Dean in Supernatural) could definitely play the role as Goku and Jared Padalecki would be Vegeta.

[i'mfuckingevil]

Also Bullza, I don't care if Asian actors have no appeal outside Asia; if white and black actors can make lead blockbuster films, it's time Hollywood gave other races that chance and if they don't, it's Hollywood being racist and in my opinion, that's what DBEvolution and the Last Airbender were.

It's not Hollywood's fault. They don't give Asian actors lead roles in big films because they won't make anywhere near as much money as if they were to cast a white actor. In modern times there's only been two bankable Asian stars and that was Jet Li and Jackie Chan and they aren't bankable anymore.

Unless it's Will Smith they'll hardly even cast a black actor in a lead role for a big movie. If some studio were paying for a $150 million film they wouldn't want to take any risks and would just get a white actor.

In Asia they'd always cast an Asian actor in a lead role for a big blockbuster for the same reason.

And as for Piccolo their best bet would be just to have him be completely CGI rather than just casting some actor just because he's tall and can fight but can't act worth a shit.

I still consider that racist, that they will not even take the risk. If the script, the story, and the directing all calls for it and an Asian actor fits and they rather just have a white actor lead, then I can understand.

But for racial roles, and by that I mean, roles written or meant to be played by colored actors, even if the role is a lead, if they cast a white actor instead I will consider that racist. And whoever that actor that is cast is, should take note on the source material or the script. Right now Goku is the only character that comes to mind with that.

[Bullza]

If they were to cast an Asian or half-Asian than a non-Asian actor (white) then Jon Foo (SF Legacy / Tekken 2010) or Ian Anthony Dale (MK Legacy / MK Rebirth) would be ideal to pull it off as Goku. As for a white non-Asian actor I was thinking of Keanu Reeves but he's also partially Asian too.

Jon Foo has the look and he has a martial arts background but he can't act worth a damn. Ian Anthony is too old and would be more suited to Vegeta. Keanu Reeves is also too old and can't act plus it'd be distracting knowing Keanu Reeves is Goku.

It needs someone young in his early 20's who looks the part, can act and pull off the goofy moments and the tough guy moments.