Efron Looks To Full Metal Panic In high school action manga adaptation Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Don't panic! It seems that Zac Eftron really isn't done with high school yet. Following the close of his HSM days, there was hope that he would be kicking off his Sunday shoes as the senior banned from dancing in the remake of Footloose, but when he cut loose from that, it seemed that 17 Again might be his graduation from teen movies. But he is now looking at crazily titled manga adaptation Full Metal Panic (not to be confused with Full Metal Alchemist - or indeed Schoolgirl Milky Crisis), which would see him installed as the protector of a schoolgirl, using special, mystical powers.
Full Metal Panic was originally a serialized novel, which hit big screens in the early 2000's as a Japanese anime and subsequently a spinoff series.
Mandalay Pictures have picked up the rights to make the film, which levels action alongside a healthy dose of comedy, as well as Efron's speciality, high school romance. The original manga is virtually adult free, leaving the school security in the hands of teen anti-terrorist commando Sousuke Sagara.
Efron is also in the frame for action-adventure adaptation of Hanna-Barbera cartoon Jonny Quest, which potential director Andy Fickman assured Empire at the weeken, both Efron and Dwayne Johnson have read a script of.
But FMP seems to be even more perfect for Efron, as he continues to cultivate his particularly manga-esque haircut. Plus the introduction of the character's mystical powers should make things more than a little interesting for the all American boy.
So should Zac-man leave his school days behind him? Or should he stick to what he knows best (until he reaches thirty - when he can move on to play teachers)?
It's hard to really complain about the casting, for all that it makes me cringe. The guy might be an alright actor, just given the way he looks and so on he's obviously an asset to people appealing to a certain market which has no interested in complex characters and themes, so it's not like he's been given much opportunity to prove himself so far.
The real questions are is it live action, and why Full Metal Panic? So much of what sets it apart from other giant robot action ser... Read More
Cause a manga starring Zac Efron doesn't sound like its gonna have the widest fanbase. Iive a 12 year old sister who loved High school musical but i don't htink shes big into semi obscure japanese comics and any of my friends who rad semi obscure japanese comics aren't gonna be drawn by a kid who can dance real well ... Read More
L: kurosawa3000
Please "No". Please don't spoil one of my favourite manga and anime series. I like Efron, but he is just not suited for the part. Why can Hollywood not re-cast these characters better? They even destroyed one of the finer Korean comedies ("My Sassy Girl" by casting to the woefully miscast (Though gorgeous) Elisha Cuthbert in the lead role.
Better yet, don't remake foreign movies or anime. Certainly in terms of anime and manga, these are stories that work best in th... Read More
Please "No". Please don't spoil one of my favourite manga and anime series. I like Efron, but he is just not suited for the part. Why can Hollywood not re-cast these characters better? They even destroyed one of the finer Korean comedies ("My Sassy Girl" by casting to the woefully miscast (Though gorgeous) Elisha Cuthbert in the lead role.
Better yet, don't remake foreign movies or anime. Certainly in terms of anime and manga, these are stories that work best in this forma... Read More
