Ryuhei Kitamura's Lupin III

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-11-26/lupin-iii-gets-live-action-film-in-summer-2014-starring-shun-oguri

They have a full cast and are shooting for a 2014 release date. I'm a big fan of Kitamura and am wondering how they can fit the feel of the series in a live-action movie.

It'll be certainly better than the other live-action movie.

And rumor makes it out to be a new Origins Episode. That'll make it listed with the first film, Strange Psychokinetic Strategy, as well as Lupin III: Episode 0: First Contact, Lupin III (Green Jacket), and Lupin III: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine.

Apparently, they've already started filming, too. We might get a few more spoilers about the production.

Link to TRS threads in project mode here.

I'm excited! I just wonder if it'll take more from the anime or from the manga? The 1974 film was definitely manga-inspired, but I'd like to see how such an approach would work nowadays.

Weird in a Can (updated M-F)

Perhaps a bit of both though I think they might not want to use too much of the manga's characterization. Unless they really want to make it Darker and Edgier.

Him?! The guy who turned Godzilla's anniversary movie into a pale imitation of Western action movies and sidelined Big G in his own anniversary?!

Of course, don't you know anything about ALCHEMY?!- Twin clones of Ivan the Great

First set pics. Green jacket!

So, the movie is going to be kinda serious, and maybe dark and edgy (imagine if he was wearing the Pink jacket - it would've been completely different).

"and even a musical."

what. Waittaminute, a MUSICAL?? wu-hu-bu-WHERE?

Link to TRS threads in project mode here.

Wait, there was a musical...

WHY?

Also, the actor who's gonna play Lupin in this movie...has no sideburns like him!

edited 30th Nov '13 2:23:33 PM by Quag15

Maybe he doesn't adopt his iconic appearance (sideburns and all) until later? Sorta like how Batman Begins took over an hour or so to finally show Bruce Wayne in the flippin' Bat-suit?

Lupin has very hard to grow sideburns. Spirit Gum fakery is better if you want to do that. Eyelocks are much easier, and serve as an okay substitute.

It isn't a surprise to avoid them (and the hands) entirely, and the actor is already being made very thin for the role. An improvement over the more average bodytype of the first live-action film.

Link to TRS threads in project mode here.

The official site shows Lupin with a red jacket sleeve.

Where'd you hear that? Unless you're going by the jacket color, which is bogus. Besides, the darkest Lupin anime had him wearing red (Mamo, Dead or Alive). And the first TV series wasn't as grimdark as people seem to think it is. Especially after the first few episodes.Monkey Punch prefers red, as well, apparently.

Weird in a Can (updated M-F)

Well, going by the assumption that this'll be an origins episode, it makes sense to assume that the dark blue pants and black shirt will be matched with the Green Jacket.

Since the most recent Green Jacket work was Lupin III: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine, I expect it to be about as dark. But also completely different.

Link to TRS threads in project mode here.

I watched the three series. You have to admit that the Pink Jacket series (and some of the episodes in the Red Jacket series) were very slapstick-y and full of humour. Don't get me wrong, I liked all series and most TV specials, OVA's and so forth, but I would like to see a live action movie in the vein of Lupin III The Woman Called Fujiko Mine.

While the Green Jacket series wasn't as grimdark, it certainly didn't have many funny moments, especially when compared to the Red Jacket and Pink Jacket series.

Black shirt? Someone's gonna die!

edited 30th Nov '13 4:48:10 PM by Quag15

Apparently some changes are gonna be made in order to modernize the characters.

Other fans don't seem to be happy about this, but I'm just take a wait and see approach.

Weird in a Can (updated M-F)

Heh. Being a fan of superhero movies prepared me for the possibility that they'd change stuff up to try and make it seem more modern, but I can see why people are upset.

I do think there are definitely some practical concerns that could be addressed, specifically since he mentions Goemon. It'd probably be easier to sneak into places and help pull off robberies if he's not dressed up like a samurai in broad daylight.

… I thought Lupin was white...

The last hurrah? Nah, I'd do it again.

He's mixed. Which brings up a funny point. He's supposed to be the grandson of a French thief from the early 1900'. That flew when he was first created in the 60's but now seems kind of hard to swallow in a contemporary setting.

edited 4th Dec '13 10:44:37 PM by comicwriter

So? He's the great-great-grandson now, or something like that. Or maybe just someone claiming to be, but we're never told for sure if he is or that's just part of his scams. That's no problem. This, however...

It would be nonsense for Goemon to exist in current society wearing samurai's garb and carrying around a katana.

Thanks for missing the whole point of Goemon. He's supposed to be an out of time figure played in a tongue-in-cheek yet badass way! Being anachronic as hell is part and parcel of his character! Here's this guy who can slice a plane apart with his katana in a world of otherwise Badass Normals; he has to look like he doesn't exactly fit in even if he actually does! I admit that balance would be much harder to achieve in live action, but still...

Yes, very true. The major reason we've had for Goemon's creation is someone to represent the traditional Japanese values. Wearing jeans and a T-shirt does not fit with the goal of the character.

We're used to, and expect the kimono, although that is more of a visual shorthand to tell us what the character represents. The line itself is secondhand, and translated by unknown people. I'm not inclined to believe Goemon will appear without the kimono, but I am worrying.

That said, there is no such thing as bad publicity, and teasing the audience with false rumours is a good way to make sure your work surprizes them.

Link to TRS threads in project mode here.

First cast pic.

First character portraits.

Lupin, Jigen and Zenigata are alright. Fujiko doesn't have the 'bombshell' look the the anime has. Goemon is...maybe it's the the way he posed, but still, it's not memorable.

Forgot this was being made. I like the character pictures.