Today is a day for news on live-action anime adaptations it seems. We received our
first trailer for the live-action "Gatchaman" aka "Battle of the Planets" earlier today and now we have a new report that a live-action "Lupin III" film is being developed with a few leads already cast. Shun Oguri (Detective Conan) has been pegged for the lead role of Arsène Lupin III, a fictional character that series mangaka Kazuhiko Katō (pen name Monkey Punch...how cool is that?) created back in 1967 as the grandson of Maurice Leblanc's Arsène Lupin. Sho Sakurai (Honey and Clover) will portray the sure-shot Daisuke Jigen while Satoshi Tsumabuki (The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift) has reportedly been cast as master swordsman, Goemon Ishikawa.
According to Japanese sources, the film is scheduled to begin shooting this fall with a release set for March 2014. But the real question on everyone's mind has to be who is playing the tantalizing temptress, Fujiko Mine? It's reported that casting for the role is underway with a rather large number of actresses in the mix including Mirei Kiritani (Ace Attorney), Masami Nagasawa (Godzilla: Final Wars ), Anne Watanabe - daughter of actor Ken Watanabe (Sakura no Sono ), Airi Taira (20th Century Boys), Kyoko Fukada (Ring 2), Asami Mizukawa (School Daze), Tsubasa Honda (Vampire Heaven ), Kiko Mizuhara (Helter Skelter), and Kou Shibasaki (Battle Royale). A live-action adaptation was previously released in Japanese theaters, title "Strange Psychokinetic Strategy" starring Kunie Tanaka.
"Lupin III (ルパン三世 Rupan Sansei), is a 1967 Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Monkey Punch (Katō Kazuhiko) that follows the incredible feats and adventures of Arsène Lupin III, the grandson of Arsène Lupin, the gentleman thief of Maurice Leblanc's series which is often described as a French counterpart to Arthur Conan Doyle's creation Sherlock Holmes. That first manga has spawned a worldwide phenomenon that now includes anime, OVAs, a previous live-action film, music soundtracks, video games and even a musical. Considered the world's greatest thief, Lupin III, travels the globe, stealing priceless objects and announcing his intentions via calling card before pulling off the heist. Joining him are expert marksman and Lupin right-hand man right-hand man Daisuke Jige, master swordsman Goemon Ishikawa XIII who is said to possess a sword and skills that can cut anything and femme fatale Fujiko Mine, fellow thief and Lupin love interest. Pursuing them across the globe is Inspector Koichi Zenigata, who has made it his life mission to catch the master thief." RELATED CONTENT: Teaser Trailer For Live-Action TIGER MASK First Look At Live-Action KUROSHITSUJI Anime First Image From Live-Action KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE The Weinstein Co. Secures International Rights To KITE Starring Samuel L. Jackson And India Eisley
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